Notice of race published

Global Ocean Race to take place again in 2011-12

Josh Hall, Race Director of the 2008-09 Portimão Global Ocean Race and the 2011-12 Global Ocean Race, explains the Notice of Race for the next event and reveals the exceptional interest in this unique, round-the-world challenge including details of Team Entries and the increased safety measures that are being applied:

"In issuing our NOR for the Global Ocean Race 2011-12 we are quite simply stating that this race will indeed happen and that the entry list is now open. We remain in negotiation with numerous ports to host the start and finish of the event but everything else is in place. We fully expect to be announcing the final details before the end of 2009.

"We are limiting the number of entries to 20 boats plus five boats that may be invited by us as organisers. So, a total of 25 boats is the maximum. In order to firmly secure a place on the start line an entry must have paid their entry fee and completed their qualification passage of 2,000 miles aboard their race boat. Thereafter there will be a waiting list. Judging by the level of interest we are receiving from potential entries we recommend early sign-up from competitors.

"In fact, we already have five committed entries.

"We have fixed arrangements with the same stopover ports as in the 2008-09 event where we have forged strong relationships with our hosts, the local marine industries and the communities. We are extremely grateful to all of our host ports, we believe in continuity and development of relations as key to maximising the benefits for our hosts and competitors. This also allows Leg records to be set and broken.

"The 2011-12 Global Ocean Race is an event only open to Class 40 type yachts that also comply with Category 0 regulations. There will be two Classes only: a Single-Handed Class and a Double-Handed Class.

"We are also maintaining the option of a Team Entry in the Double-Handed Class whereby a team of up to six members can race, changing-out crew for each leg. We expect numerous such Team Entries for 2011-12 as it is such a cost-effective way of racing around the world. For instance this is a fantastic way for a Yacht Club to enter a boat in the race.

"We are also amending certain Class 40 regulations which we believe to be in the best interests of the safety and competitive capabilities of the boats in this particular race – such as allowing them to have more sails and more exotic sails. We do not view this as increasing the costs of doing the event, rather that speed and reliability are a sailor’s best friends in the southern oceans.

"We are also requiring even stricter safety controls for the 2011-12 event and will require each boat to have completed a 180 degree self-righting test prior to the race. We know that Class 40 type boats will self-right fairly easily, but we believe it is important that the crew experience being in this position and that they test the securing arrangements for their gear and the watertight integrity of their boats.

"With the excellent seamanship of the entries in the race, and our careful guardianship, we proved with the 2008-09 event that these boats can race around the world safely and with the very highest level of competition. We will strive to ensure that this remains the case for all our future editions of the event.

For full details of the 2011-12 Global Ocean Race NOR, please contact Race Director, Josh Hall, via josh@portimaorace.com or the event’s Media Manager, Oliver Dewar, via oliver@portimaorace.com