A range of announcements, during the two-day event, set a course for a healthier future for our oceans and the Volvo Ocean Race Sustainability Programme revealed its post-race plans.  

Announcements at The Hague stopover included: 

• World Sailing launched the World Sailing Trust, a new global charity, chaired by Dee Caffari, that will promote the health of oceans and grow participation of the sport to protect its future, reinforcing the legacy of the race. 

• Alongside the Province of Zuid Hollande, the city of The Hague signed up to the UN Environment #CleanSeas campaign and set out a plan to make all plastic products recyclable. 

• World Ocean Council, an ocean industry leadership alliance, revealed the formation of a cross-sectoral business coalition to address land-based sources of marine pollution with a focus on microplastic.

© Sander van der Borch

As this edition of the race draws to a close, it was announced that the Sustainability Programme remains fully committed to the continued development of this global sporting event with sustainability, focusing on ocean health, as a central pillar to its mission.World Sailing launched the World Sailing Trust, a new global charity, chaired by Dee Caffari, that will promote the health of oceans and grow participation of the sport to protect its future and reinforce the legacy of the race

Anne-Cecile Turner, Volvo Ocean Race Sustainability Programme Leader, said: “The programme will use the Volvo Ocean Race as a catalyst for change to preserve ocean health. The objective will be to lead, inspire and engage through an even stronger innovative programme, combining sailing and sustainability innovation platforms designed to create real and tangible impact for ocean preservation, globally and locally.” 

To build upon the programme’s significant sustainability achievements so far and to deliver global impact, it will take the sustainability practices to the next level during the 2021/22 event. Meanwhile, in the run up to the next edition, the programme will continue to organise a range of international Ocean Summits, further expand the Education Programme and continue to pioneer a Scientific Programme focussing on ocean plastic for a sustainable future. 

In order to meet these objectives, it will continue to collaborate with a range of innovative partners, including 11th Hour Racing and UN Environment, to help deliver a lasting legacy and drive real change for a healthy planet. 

Jeremy Pochman, 11th Hour Racing Co-Founder and Strategic Director, said: "The impact of our partnership with the Volvo Ocean Race has been truly remarkable, and we are honoured and inspired by this journey. It’s been really rewarding to see our partnership with the race and the other sustainability partners grow stronger throughout each of the stopovers.  

“Now that the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race is drawing to a close, it’s time to review and reflect on our achievements, and to build upon the legacy we have created. We are thrilled to continue this collaboration and to further our support for the Sustainability Programme. Protecting and restoring the health of our oceans is one race that none of us can afford to lose.”

© Pedro Martinez/Volvo Ocean Race

Lisa Svensson, Director for Ocean, UN Environment, said: “Volvo Ocean Race has provided a fantastic platform for taking the struggle to defeat plastic pollution to a completely new level. Leaders in politics and business around the globe are mobilised and we are experiencing rapid change. UN Environment look forward to strengthening the partnership and taking the CleanSeas Campaign to the next level with Governments and the private sector." 

During The Hague Ocean Summit, HRH Princess Laurentien Of The Netherlands, director of Fauna and Flora International, spoke about the need to stop plastic pollution and how educating children is imperative to finding solutions to the plastic crisis.  

Volvo Ocean Race sailors Liz Wardley and Nicolai Sehested talked about their role as sailors turned scientists as part of the Volvo Ocean Race Science Programme. On stage, Dee Caffari, Turn the Tide on Plastic, Annemieke Bos, Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag, Mark Towill, Vestas 11th Hour Racing, Simeon Tienpoint, Team AkzoNobel, Xabi Fernandez, Team Mapfre and Carolijn Brouwer, Donfeng Race Team, reflected on the race and how we can improve the health of our oceans.  

Karmenu Vella. EU Commissioner Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and talked about the EU proposal to ban single-use plastics whilst Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water, spoke about the Netherlands ambitions to have a circular economy by 2050.  

Lewis Perkins, President Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute and Wendy Schmidt, President of The Schmidt Family Foundation, co-founder of Schmidt Ocean Institute discussed the role their initiatives are playing in shifting the relationship a range of key stakeholders have with plastic. 

Break out sessions explored renewable energy, zero emission shipping, the circular economy and ocean management. Dr Luiza Mirpuri, of the Mirpuri Foundation gave a presentation on the impacts plastic is having on human health.

Paulo Mirpuri, President of Mirpuri Foundation, said: “It has been an extraordinary Ocean Summit and we were delighted to learn about other interesting projects that perfectly complement the Mirpuri Foundation’s work on the perils of plastic and its effects on human health. 

© Pedro Martinez/Volvo Ocean Race

“It was with great pleasure that we heard that the Ocean Summits will continue beyond the racing cycle and this is an important legacy left by the Volvo Ocean Race. I’m also glad to announce that in May 2019 the Mirpuri Foundation will hold a Conference in Lisbon convening members of the scientific community from the best universities and research centres from all over the world. They will exchange information and research results with the aim of developing a better understanding of our knowledge base on this most important theme around the effects of plastics, microplastics and nanoplastics on human health.”

The seven Ocean Summits in Alicante, Cape Town, Hong Kong, Newport, Cardiff, Gothenburg and The Hague, have already resulted in governments, businesses and a range of ocean advocates leading by example, making solid commitments to help stop the ubiquitous spread of plastic in our seas.  

After nine months, 45,000 miles of offshore racing and 10 In-Port Races, the Volvo Ocean Race fleet is preparing to take the final start of the event at the Brunel In-Port Race on Saturday afternoon in The Hague.

It will be a bittersweet moment for the sailors, many of whom may be racing together for the last time after spending many miles at sea as close teammates.

Although MAPFRE won the overall In-Port Race Series with their performance in Gothenburg, there is still much at stake on Saturday, including a tie-break scenario on the overall leaderboard.

© Konrad Frost/Volvo Ocean Race

SHK/Scallywag and Turn the Tide on Plastic are on equal points for sixth place on the overall Volvo Ocean Race leaderboard. David Witt’s Scallywags currently win the tie-break based on their lead in the In-Port Series. But Dee Caffari’s Turn the Tide on Plastic is just three points back. A good performance on Saturday, with some boats in-between, could lift Turn the Tide on Plastic into sixth place for both the In-Port Series and the overall Volvo Ocean Race.

There is also a battle between Dutch skippers Simeon Tienpont and team AkzoNobel and Bouwe Bekking’s Team Brunel for the final podium spot in the Series as just two points separate the teams.

© James Blake/Volvo Ocean Race

And AkzoNobel has an outside chance at catching Dongfeng Race Team for second place, although the gap is five points.

Racing starts earlier than usual, at 1330 local time (1130 UTC), and will be broadcast live on all of the usual Volvo Ocean Race outlets.

Current Volvo Ocean Race In-Port Race Series Points Table
1. MAPFRE – 61 points
2. Dongfeng Race Team – 50 points
3. team AkzoNobel – 45 points
4. Team Brunel – 43 points
5. Vestas 11th Hour Racing – 33 points
6. Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag – 24 points
7. Turn the Tide on Plastic – 21 points

© Jeremie Lecaudey/Volvo Ocean Race

How to follow the Brunel In-Port Race The Hague

Racing starts at 1330 local time (1130 UTC), on Saturday, 30th June.

On the website:
Head to www.volvooceanrace.com to catch a live stream of the action from 1315 local time (1115 UTC). A post race story summarising the action and with quotes from the skippers will be posted shortly after racing has finished.

Check out Facebook Live:
We’ll go live at 1315 local time (1115 UTC). You can go to our page to schedule a reminder so you don’t miss it.

Check out Twitter Live:
Join the conversation on Twitter with the live broadcast at 1315 local time (1115 UTC) by tweeting us with #volvooceanrace. We’ll be live-tweeting the action, as well as broadcasting the race feed. Check it out as we share the best content from the teams, stakeholders and fans on our feed.

Join us on our live blog:
We’ll be blogging all the moves, previews and news from the racetrack on our live blog, including the best of clips and social content, from 1300 local time (1100 UTC). You can find it at www.volvooceanrace.com under the ‘Racing’ section.

Download the app:
It’s full of great content and fits on your mobile phone. Why wouldn’t you want the official Volvo Ocean Race app? Head to the App Store or Google Play to download it. It’s called Volvo Ocean Race.

Come down to the Race Village:
We’ve got a fantastic Race Village along the beach at Scheveningen Harbour in The Hague, including the Volvo Ocean Race Boatyard facility, the Volvo Pavilion and Volvo Ocean Race Globe as well as the team bases. The Village is jam-packed full of interactive elements, innovative structures and loads of exciting things to do with a fantastic beach ambiance.

We are saddened and concerned to learn of a serious accident Thursday evening between two boats on the waters off the Port of Scheveningen, adjacent to the Race Village.

No Volvo Ocean Race or team personnel were involved in the collision.

The Mayor of The Hague and local police confirmed at a press conference on Thursday night that the accident has resulted in one fatality. Three people have been taken to hospital, one in critical condition.

We send our condolences to the family and friends of those involved in the accident.

We are in contact with local emergency services and will support the local authorities on site in any way we can.

Because of the accident, the City decided to close the Race Village early on Thursday night and will make appropriate changes to programming for Friday.

It was the first time that legendary yachts from the 45-year history of the world's leading ocean race have gathered to compete in an offshore race.

The Legends Race started on June 21 in Gothenburg, 45 minutes before the start of the final leg of the 2017-18 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race, which saw Dongfeng Race Team claim the overall victory.

© Marie Båge

The Legends fleet on the start line was a sight to see, a reminder of years gone by, with the fleet including Copernicus,who raced in the first edition in 1973-74, and overall winner Flyer in 1977-78, to modern yachts like Telefónica Blue , which competed in 2008-09 and Ericsson 4, the winner of that edition of the race.

While the Volvo Ocean 65s started their leg racing in Kattegat and Skagerrak, the twelve Legends Race yachts sailed around the horn of Denmark to face strong winds and rough conditions, which was a big test for these historic boats.

”The conditions were critical at some moments and the fact that all the teams made it to the finish is real proof of a high level of seamanship. It is amazing to see how well the yachts held up and how some of the more modern boats actually reached almost record-breaking speeds on the way south to The Hague,” says Ola Åstradsson, Project Manager of the Legends Race.

“We gathered all these yachts together because we wanted to highlight and promote the history of the race and its legendary stories. The way the teams raced really made it into a celebration of the heritage of the race, which will continue to be built on in the future”, he added.

The fastest yacht to reach The Hague was Ericsson 4, who finished first of the three VO70s. "It has been a fantastic race and very well organised. The activities and facilities around the event are high class and our team and our friends are very pleased with being part of this regatta”, says Joern Larsen CEO and founder of Trifork and crew on Ericsson 4 in the Legends race.

Illbruck, famous for winning the Volvo Ocean Race in 2001-02, was the fastest of the six competing Whitbread 60s. But it was by a narrow margin as she beat Assa Abloy by just six minutes. This earned Illbruck third place on the scoreboard on corrected time behind Ericsson 4 and Telefónica Blue. Of the older yachts, Flyer showed she’s still got it, beating the other competitors Neptune and Copernicus. Rothmans retired from the race before the fleet entered the tough conditions in the North Sea and Copernicus was the last yacht to reach the finish on June 26, after the crew had chosen to stop in Skagen, Denmark to make repairs early in the race. Her finish position was 11th place, the same as it was when she raced around the world in 1973-74

The Sir Peter Blake Trophy will handed over to the overall winner, Ericsson 4, on Saturday June 30 on the main stage at the Race Village in The Hague.

Following prizes were presented at the Legends prize giving ceremony on June 26.
Flyer (1977) – Winner Vintage Whitbread pre- 1990
Illbruck (2001) – Winner Volvo Ocean 60/W60
Ericsson4 (2008) – Winner Volvo Open 70
Ericsson4 (2008) – Overall Winner
Flyer (1977) – Concours d’elegance
Copernicus (1973) – Best effort Award
Neptune (1977) – Best effort Award

Legends Race Results on Corrected time - Start on June 21 13.15 CET
1. Ericsson 4 - 1d 23h 54m
2- Telefónica Blue- 2d 2h 53m
3. Illbruck - 2d 6h 28m
4. Assa Abloy - 2d 6h 34m
5. SEB - 2d 9h 24m
6. Flyer - 2d 19h 34m
7. Tokio II - 2d 23h 15m
8. Silk Cut - 3d 1h 59m
9. Green Dragon - 3d 2h 33m
10. Neptune - 4d 4h 28m
11. Copernicus - 4d 23h 59m
12. Rothmans – Retired
13. Amer Sport One - Did Not Start

© Marie Båge

Entries - Legends Race 2018

1973-74
Copernicus (11th)
Designer: Liskiewicz & Rejewski
Rig: Ketch
LOA: 46.5’(14.20m)
Crew: 5

2001-02
Assa Abloy (2nd)
Class: Whitbread 60
Designer: Farr Yacht Design
Rig: Fractional sloop
LOA 64’ (19.5m)
Crew: 12

1977-78 (1st)
Flyer
Designer: Sparkman & Stephens
Rig: Ketch
LOA: 65’2 (19.87m)
Crew: 12

Illbruck (1st)
Class: Volvo Ocean 60
Designer: Farr Yacht Design
Rig: Fractional sloop
LOA: 64’ (19.4m)
Crew: 12

Neptune (8th)
Designer: Andrė Mauric
Rig: Sloop
LOA: 59’ (17.9m)
Crew: 10

SEB (7th)
Class: Volvo Ocean 60
Designer: Farr Yacht Design
Rig: Fractional sloop
LOA: 64’ (19.5m)
Crew: 12

1989-90
Rothmans (4th)
Designer: Rob Humphreys
Rig: Maxi sloop
LOA: 80, (24.5m)
Crew: 13 - 16

2008-09
Ericsson 4 (1st)
Class: Volvo Open 70
Designer: Juan Yacht Design
Rig: Fractional sloop
LOA: 70’5’ (21.4m)
Crew: 11

1993-94
Tokio (5th)
Class: Whitbread 60
Designer: Farr Yacht Design
Rig: Fractional sloop
LOA 64’ (19.5m)
Crew: 12

Green Dragon (5th)
Class: Volvo Open 70
Designer: Reichel Pugh
Rig: Fractional sloop
LOA: 64’ (19.4m)
Crew: 12

1997-98
Silk Cut (5th)
Class: Whitbread 60
Designer: Farr Yacht Design
Rig: Fractional sloop
LOA 64’ (19.5m)
Crew: 12

Telefónica Blue (3rd)
Class: Volvo Open 70
Designer: Farr Yacht Design
Rig: Fractional sloop
LOA: 70’5’ (21.4m)
Crew: 11

Download the Notice of Race here.

Out of a total of 68 samples taken during the course of the Volvo Ocean Race, only two, collected south of Australia and east of Argentina, have been found to contain no microplastics.

The most recent data, taken from sub-surface seawater samples collected on board Team AkzoNobel and Turn the Tide on Plastic boats, found 75 particles of microplastics per cubic metre in one taken off the US coast following the stopover in Newport, Rhode Island.

Levels of 73 and 76 particles of microplastics per cubic metre were recorded as the boats headed towards the mid-Atlantic. These could be connected to the edge of the North Atlantic garbage patch, one of five ocean ‘gyres’, estimated to be hundreds of kilometres across in size.

© James Blake/Volvo Ocean Race

In the mid-Atlantic, 63 particles of microplastics per cubic metre were recorded, while close to Cardiff, levels were slightly higher with 65 particles of microplastics per cubic metre found.

Earlier in the race, in the Southern Ocean, close to Point Nemo the furthest point from land on Earth, there were between nine and 26 particles of microplastic per cubic metre. Close to Antarctic waters in the South Indian Ocean levels of microplastics were as high as 25 particles per cubic metre

The highest levels of microplastic found so far, 349 particles per cubic metre were found in a sample taken in the South China Sea that feeds into the Kurushio Current and the North Pacific Gyre. The next highest levels, 307 particles per cubic metre, were found at the point where the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean meet. 

The microplastic samples were analysed by members of the Volvo Ocean Race scientific consortium in Kiel, Germany.  The data is then uploaded to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) microplastics database where scientists are able to access it open source.

Dr. Toste Tanhua of GEOMAR Institute for Ocean Research Kiel, funded by the Cluster of Excellence Future Ocean, carried out the analysis and is presenting the findings at the Volvo Ocean Race Ocean Summit in The Hague, Netherlands on Thursday 28th June.

Dr. Tanhua said: He said: Thanks to the great cooperation of the Volvo Ocean Race and the teams on the water, we have been able to collect a very valuable and unique data set during the race which we have been able to share with the wider scientific community. Unfortunately, almost all the samples contained microplastics, meaning that the plastics are carried with ocean currents to the most remote parts of the world’s oceans.”  

The series of seven Ocean Summits have convened key stakeholders at race stopovers where announcements by governments, business and a range of organisations, have resulted in significant steps to help tackle the global ocean plastic crisis.

The latest samples were collected on the 3,300 nautical mile leg from Newport to Cardiff. The boats also collect other oceanographic data measurements including temperature, dissolved CO2, salinity, algae content (as chlorophyll) that gives an indication of levels of ocean health and acidification.

Volvo Ocean Race boats are also collecting data that is essential for forecasting of future weather and climate changes, in both the short and long term. This is already being utilised by the World Meteorological Organisation and UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. 

 Anne-Cecile Turner, Sustainability Programme Leader for the Volvo Ocean Race, added: “The race has now come full circle and the fact that just two of the samples didn’t contain microplastics clearly shows how pervasive they have become.

“The collation of a complete data set by this elite scientific consortium is of exceptional value and provides an historic legacy and clear benchmark for our future understanding of the world’s oceans and climate.” 

Microplastics are often invisible to the naked eye and can take thousands of years to degrade. By collecting information on their levels, the Science Programme is helping scientists gain insight into the scale of plastic pollution and its impact upon marine life.

The Volvo Ocean Race Sustainability Programme is a partnership in collaboration with Sustainability Partners 11th Hour Racing, the Mirpuri Foundation and our other main partners, Volvo, AkzoNobel, Ocean Family Foundation, Stena Recycling and Bluewater. The Turn the Tide on Plastic boat is, furthermore, supported the by Sky Ocean Rescue. 

The Volvo Ocean Race Science Programme is funded by Volvo Cars, who are donating €100 from first 3,000 sales of the new Volvo V90 Cross Country Volvo Ocean Race edition to support the initiative.

Stuart Templar, Director of Sustainability at Volvo Cars, said: “This ground breaking programme has provided invaluable data on the health of our oceans, particularly the global extent of the problem of marine plastic pollution.

“It’s clear that the time for inaction is over, and it’s the responsibility of all of us, including industry, to both make better use of plastic and say no to single use plastic. Volvo Cars is proud to have supported the programme and we would like to thank all those involved, especially The Turn The Tide On Plastic and AkzoNobel crews, as well as the excellent team at GEOMAR.”

At the Ocean Summit in Newport, Volvo Cars stated that they would be removing all single use plastic items from their offices, restaurants and events by the end of 2019. In Gothenburg, they announced that from 2025, at least 25% of the plastic in newly launched Volvos would be made from recycled material. 

To further our understanding of the issues connected to plastics the Sustainability Programme is conducting a post race workshop with key global stakeholders from science, academia, the private sector and other institutions to explore the theme: ‘’From micro to nano plastic pollution: the current situation and our knowledge gaps.

UN Environment #CleanSeas campaign, which partners with the Race, aims to encourage governments, businesses and individuals to make changes in their own lives to reduce their plastic footprint.

For more information contact: 

Robin Clegg -  robin.clegg@volvooceanrace.com