Date:15/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/15/stories/2008111551070200.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Volvo race fleet to set sail to Kochi

Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The leg two of the Volvo Ocean Race from Cape Town to Kochi will commence on Saturday when eight teams will race to Asia for the first time in the 35-year history of the race.

Kochi is the finish port for the second leg and represents a sea change and fresh challenge for the crew members. The threat of piracy and collisions with fishing vessels are the major challenges.

The teams are all set for the challenges of leg two. The Southern Ocean storms, towering seas, horrendous cold and icebergs have been the principal challenges of the leg, out of Cape Town.

An exclusion zone has been set up to the northwest of Mauritius, to keep the fleet clear of the most dangerous area of known piracy.

The start of leg two is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Table Bay, Cape Town, just outside the V+A Waterfront that has played host to the fleet since they arrived two weeks ago. The race to Kochi is 4,450 miles and the leader is expected to finish around December 3.

Ericsson 4 won Leg one from Alicante to Cape Town and currently heads the leaderboard. The prize distribution ceremony of leg two will take place on December 11 at the Cochin Race Village, Willington Island.

The 37,000-nautical mile course of the race across five continents is the most gruelling long ocean race, a challenge that only the best and the most experienced seaman will take on.