Volvo Ocean Race 2005/6

Leg 6 Finish (New York to Portsmouth) - 19th May 2006 approx.
In-Port Racing (Solent) Bank Holiday Monday - 29th May 2006
Leg 7 Start (Portsmouth to Rotterdam) - Saturday 2nd June 2006

In Port Racing - Portsmouth UK
In the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-06 one innovation will have everyone swotting up on the racing rules - the In Port races. This short, sharp racing where the boats will never be more than a few boat lengths apart, is where intricate knowledge of the rules and boat-to-boat tactics could be crucial in deciding the overall outcome of the race. Specialist inshore tacticians have been employed by some teams


Spectacular
At the start the boats jostle for the best position on the line, with some helmsmen prepared to use quite aggressive manoeuvres to book the best spot. In motor racing the drivers have qualifying sessions to determine who takes the front of the grid, in sailing the sailors spend the last few minutes before the start gun doing exactly the same thing. There is only one right place to be on any start line and not every boat can be there.

We've also had some incredibly close finishes at the end of Volvo Ocean Race legs, even after thousands of miles of racing in open water. With boats finishing within seconds of each other, again it is crucial for the crews to know the right-of-way rules in racing.


Pirates
About the only thing the rules don't seem to have legislated for is the possibility of The Pirates of the Caribbean taking their team name to heart and boarding their rivals with a cutlass and pistol. You can't say that Skipper Paul Cayard would necessarily condone such an action, but when you are trying to win a race. . .

More info at Volvo Ocean Race