Volvo Ocean Race: The Spaniards are back: Campos leads Mapfre into the race

When the Volvo Ovean Race starts on 22 October in Alicante, Spain, a home team will also be crossing the line. After the Dutch newcomer team AkzoNobel and the comeback crew of the Dongfeng Race Team, the Spanish team Mapfre has now also announced its second consecutive Volvo Ocean Race participation.

The insurance group of the same name is once again sending a team to the toughest team race around the world. The Spaniards sold themselves short in the last edition with a few problems, but still managed to finish fourth in the final classification with victory on the stage to New Zealand and three further podium places. Once again, it will be the highly experienced Spaniard Pedro Campos who leads the campaign. The skipper and crew will be introduced in the coming weeks.

So far, Spanish teams have taken part in eight of the twelve editions of the former Whitbread Round the World Race, but are still waiting for their first victory in the most famous ocean marathon around the world. Volvo Ocean Race CEO Mark Turner was naturally delighted about the prominent addition to his still relatively small fleet: "Having recently confirmed Alicante as the starting port for the next three editions and with Spain playing an important role in the history of the race, it will be a great pleasure to welcome Spanish fans back to the docks in October to cheer on their Team Mapfre."

Pedro Campos, who has led the last five (!) Spanish Volvo Ocean Race projects, is also looking forward to his next task: "We are grateful and proud to once again have the full support of Mapfre for the upcoming Volvo Ocean Race - probably the longest, toughest and most extreme event in the sporting world. Just taking part is a big goal for any team. Crossing the finish line with a chance of winning is now our first big challenge and our job in the coming months."

The 13th edition of the classic race will be sailed over around 45,000 nautical miles from Alicante via Lisbon, Cape Town, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Auckland, Itajaí, Newport (Rhode Island), Cardiff and Gothenburg to the finish harbour of The Hague. It remains to be seen whether and how the teams, which are only gradually entering the public arena, will implement the new rule on the use of female sailors and the formation of mixed teams in the Volvo Ocean Race.