Volvo Ocean Race: Sea marathon on the upswing

Does the twelfth edition of the Volvo Ocean Race already have more participants than the 35th America's Cup ever will? Manager Knut Frostad can certainly look forward to the start of the 2014/2015 ocean marathon on 4 October in Alicante with his head held high. With the eighth Spanish team in the 41-year history of the Volvo Ocean Race (formerly the Whitbread Round the World Race), once again formed by Pedro Campos, the number of participants has increased to six teams. A seventh team will soon be sailing into the public spotlight.

Campos and his ocean heroes - the two Olympic champions Iker Matrinez and Xabi Fernandez - do not want to present their title partners and skipper until the coming weeks. The Spaniards have already taken delivery of their Volvo Ocean 65 OneDesign yacht in Southampton. With the current campaign, businessman and sailor Pedro Campos has increased the number of projects he has successfully sailed around the world to five in a row, setting a record of his own. "We are proud of this," said Campos, "and of course of the fact that we are once again taking part in the Volvo Ocean Race for Spain. We know that it will be a very difficult regatta given the identical boats, but as always we will try to fly the Spanish flag as high as possible." Campos named Martinez and Fernandez as two pillars of the crew for the 2014/2015 round the world race. The two 49er Olympic champions still have a score to settle with the race. They had initially dominated the 2011/2012 edition before a broken rudder thwarted their chances of victory on the penultimate leg and the French "Groupama" won the eleventh Ocean Race edition. Fans of the race around the globe are still waiting for a Spanish winner.

Knut Frostad's joy at the Iberians' comeback on a historic Spanish day was palpable. While the new monarch and passionate sailor Felipe VI was sworn in in Madrid and the people were torn between enthusiasm for the royal couple, rejection of the monarchy and at the same time sadness over the early elimination of their football team from the World Cup, the country's most famous sailors announced their claims to the high seas sailing throne. Frostad said: "The Spanish team has some of the most versatile and experienced sailors in its squad and I am sure they will sail well." The Spaniards will face the competition already entered in Alicante: Team SCA, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, Dongfeng Race Team, Team Brunel and Team Alvimedica. The Spanish team is supported by the national sports ministry as well as the sailing association.