Excitement is beginning to mount as the eight Volvo Ocean Race yachts prepare to depart on the second leg of the race to Cochin, India on Saturday, 15 November.

The state of the art yachts are competing in the internationally renowned Volvo Ocean Race, a notoriously tough course which covers 31 000 nautical miles and stops at 10 other ports besides Cape Town.

The race began in Alicante, Spain on October 11 and is scheduled to finish in St Petersburg, Russia in June 2010. Cape Town is the first stopover along the route, and whilst the crew have been resting, the yachts have been hauled out to repair damages sustained during the first leg of the race, which lasted a gruelling 3 ½ weeks.

For Capetonians, the race restart (as the start of the second leg is known) is a unique opportunity to participate directly in the thrill of this world class race. Proceedings will begin with a blessing of the fleet at 11:35, after which there will be a departure ceremony, in which the boats will leave the dock to go to the race course. The actual race will restart at 13:00.

The City has received a routing for the yachts’ departure (click here to view the route and schedule of the event). The fleet will leave the Waterfront, sail out towards Milnerton and Blaauwberg, return inshore towards the Radisson Hotel area and finally sail along the coast to Camps Bay and Llandudno before heading out to open waters.

The City of Cape Town would like to encourage residents to demonstrate Cape Town’s unique brand of hospitality by giving the yachts the best send-off ever. The event will be televised to an estimated 1.8 billion people, and the publicity will help position the city as a desirable investment and tourist choice.

The best viewing sites for the restart are the Milnerton and Blaauwberg beaches, the area just past the Radisson Hotel and the various parking spots along Victoria Road, which stretches from the Waterfront, goes past the Mouille Point Lighthouse, Sea Point, Bantry Bay, Camps Bay and Llandudno and finishes in Hout Bay.

Once over, the restart will be celebrated at the PUMA official Volvo Ocean Race Cape Town Stopover farewell party, which will be held at Quay 4, at the Waterfront at 15:00. For many, this is the only fitting way in which to mark the end of what has truly been a thrilling – and beneficial experience for the people of Cape Town.

One sector that has boosted its income via the stopover is Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in the craft industry. The Cape Town Stopover Craft Showcase, held in collaboration with the Cape Craft and Design Institute and the City of Cape Town, gave up to 30 different artisans the opportunity to demonstrate their manufacturing processes and products during the stopover.

The race has also been a powerful mechanism to educate young people about a variety of issues including technology, teamwork, the environment and the virtues of sporting achievement. Combining these important lessons with the fun of a visit to the specially set up Volvo Race Village made for an unforgettable educational experience for youths from a range of Western Cape Communities.

Schoolchildren from over 10 different schools and clubs and over 50 underprivileged township youths were brought to the Race Village for a general tour and entertaining day out. The Bathandiwa House in Khayelitsha, which houses 24 children with various disabilities, also sent a group to experience the magic of the Volvo Race Village.

The race also provided the city with a valuable learning opportunity ahead of the 2010 World Cup. Over the course of the two-week stopover, over 50 local volunteers were deployed to perform duties in the Race Village, such as managing operations and event logistics.

The Volvo Ocean Race organisers and the Isivunguvungu Sailing Academy also hosted a Youth Sailing Academy at the Race Village over three days. On each day, twelve students from the Izivunguvungu Sailing Academy were given the opportunity to learn the art of sailing from the yacht crews.

The City of Cape Town would like to take this opportunity to wish the participating yachts a safe and pleasant race.

How to follow the race:
Audio: www.volvooceanrace.org
Web TV: www.volvooceanrace.tv