The city of Alicante came alive this weekend with the start of the world-renowned Volvo Ocean Race. Since 2008, the coastal Spanish city has been hosting the starting races for one of the most exciting regattas on the boating calendar.

An entire “Race Village” has been constructed on the historical Alicante’s waterfront and will be in place from until November 5, expecting to attract more than a million visitors with its concerts, shows, exhibitions, sailing clinics and restaurants not to mention the Volvo Ocean Race Experience, an interactive simulator taking you into the world of Volvo Ocean Racing.

Of course the main attraction are the stars of the Volvo Ocean Race, six 70-foot Volvo Open 70 Racing yachts and the crews that will race them the challenging 39,000 nautical miles around the world’s oceans.  For the first time the team zones will be open to the public allowing boating enthusiasts to watch master boat builders and design experts do their thing in the run up to the first in-port Race on October 29.

From November 1 to November 5, the Legends Regatta and Reunion will take place and then on November 5 the teams will finally start their race 6,500 nautical miles South from Alicante to Cape Town.

An estimated four million people are expected to visit the race villages in the 10 Volvo Ocean Race Host Ports – make sure you’re one of them.

www.volvooceanrace.com