Volvo Ocean Race: Overview, Marketing, History
Volvo Ocean Race: Overview, Marketing, History
Volvo Ocean Race: Overview, Marketing, History
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1997-98 THE VOLVO TROPHY<br />
14 HISTORY IN PROGRESS<br />
The seventh and final race under the Whitbread banner<br />
changed the public face of ocean racing forever. The sheer<br />
excellence of the on board video footage and the quality and<br />
quantity of the daily emails from the crews ensured a huge media<br />
interest worldwide.<br />
For the first time, the fleet was made up of one class only, the<br />
Whitbread 60, and a fleet of 10 set off from Southampton on<br />
21st September, vying for the <strong>Volvo</strong> Trophy. A complicated<br />
points scoring system replaced elapsed time. One important<br />
effect of the W60 was its attraction to big-name, round-thebuoys<br />
racers. The boat provided a challenge they could not<br />
resist. Dennis Conner was once again trying his skill, as was Chris<br />
Dickson. Perhaps the biggest surprise was Paul Cayard, whose<br />
bona fides as a Star boat champion and America’s Cup<br />
competitor hardly seemed to suit the rigours of ocean racing.<br />
Some did not take him seriously.