Volvo Ocean Race: Overview, Marketing, History

62 CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
THE VOLVO OCEAN RACE HAS EVOLVED OVER THIRTY YEARS. IT IS NOW VASTLY DIFFERENT
FROM THE EVENT THAT WAS CONCEIVED OVER A PINT OF BEER IN A PUB BETWEEN COL. BILL
WHITBREAD OF THE BREWING FAMILY, AND ADMIRAL OTTO STEINER, OF THE ROYAL NAVAL
SAILING ASSOCIATION. BUT SOME THINGS NEVER ALTER, AND ALTHOUGH IT IS NOW A
HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL EVENT, IT WILL ALWAYS REMAIN AN ADVENTURE.
The challenge of the ocean never changes and it is still just as demanding
to race through the desolate Southern Ocean as it was back in 1973. The
respect that is felt as Cape Horn slips silently away is never dimmed.
The race is still the ultimate in human endeavour, and it will always demand
faith, trust and respect among teammates. It is life at the extreme and will
always remain so.
Where it has seen its most dramatic change, however is in the way the sport
has come of age as a modern, sophisticated sports marketing opportunity.
Advances in technology have enabled extraordinary changes to yacht design
DANIEL FORSTER