Stockholm får stopover

Nu är det klart. VOR stannar till i Stockholm. Dags att boka en helikopter!

The Swedish capital of Stockholm has been confirmed as the final stopover for the 2008-09 race prior to the finish in St Petersburg in July next year.

During the stopover, from 16-25 June, Stockholm will also host an in-port race and a pro-am event in its famous archipelago.

At a city hall press conference in central Stockholm, Mayor, Kristina Axén Olin, was joined by Ulla Hamilton, Vice-Mayor and Chairman of Ports of Stockholm, together with Glenn Bourke, CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race, to make the formal announcement.

Bourke said: “This is a fantastic location and we are delighted that we have come to an agreement to bring our event to such a beautiful city. The fleet of Volvo Open 70s sailing into the harbour of Stockholm and mooring next to the royal castle will be a magnificent sight, and the in-port race held in Kanholmsfjärden just inside Sandhamn [an outer island of the archipelago] will be a stunning setting for the last in-port race of the event.”

Hamilton added: “We hope that the Volvo Ocean Race will be an opportunity to showcase Stockholm as environmental leader as well as the popular cruising port it already is.”

Stockholm is the home port of Ericsson Racing Team which has two boats entered in the race, built by Killian Bushe in Stockholm. Skipper of the all-Nordic crew, Anders Lewander was also at the press conference.