The Volvo Ocean Race, which commenced at Alicante in Spain on 29th October, is now steaming towards Auckland, New Zealand a city that is often dubbed the “City of Sails.” It is has been long well known for its insatiable fascination with vessels both small and large that sail into its waters each year from far and wide.

This time it is the turn of the million dollar round the world Volvo Ocean racing fleet. It is common for countries and cities on the main world ocean sail racing routes to vie to gain the monopoly of hosting such economically geared events. This time Auckland won the bid.

Puma During In-Port Race 1, Alicante,… Rick Tomlinson

The city of 1.5 million will certainly not be short of spectators as the heat is building and Auckland is holding its steamy breath, as it prepares for the opening of the Race Village on Thursday. Time is closing in for the arrival of the tiny fleet of six yachts that will have descended on the city at the close of this week.

Auckland Maori Bay © nazmoo - Fotolia.com

The showpiece of the Race Village will be the celebrities of the Volvo Ocean Race, the huge 70 foot Volvo Open 70 racing yachts and the crews that go with them that have, up to now, raced more than 23,000 nautical miles transiting the world’s roughest and toughest oceans from Alicante through to Auckland.

The Race Village, staged at the Viaduct Harbour super yacht base will be opening for business at 9am this Thursday, initiating ten days of festivities heralding the Volvo Ocean Race’s homecoming for Camper Emirates New Zealand as it enters the City of Sails and the finishing point of Stage 4 of the race. The first Chinese yacht to enter such a challenging event, Team Sanya, will be lining up with six in the Viaduct as well.

Passenger Ferries Churn Across Sydney… Annie Griffiths

Normally, the port activities of racing yacht crews are shielded from the public eye but visitors, this time, will have the chance to observe the teams doing their daily chores at close range, as the group of designers and master boat builders will work in front of the public eye.

The Race Village is also offering the Volvo Ocean Race event an interactive draw card attempting to seduce us who prefer the land into the small watery world of a Volvo Ocean Race sailor through its 3 dimensional cinema, simulated presentations and displays and winch grinding confrontations.

Auckland Cbd, Skytower and Waitemata … David Wall

The events manager Johnny Donelly said there is such a huge variety of events taking place at the Race Village that there is something for just about everybody.

With still almost 18,000 nautical miles to the finish line, the fleet is set to depart the City of Sails on the 18th March heading for Itajal on the Brazilian coast and then onto Miami and across the Atlantic finishing up in Galway, Ireland on the 8th July. There are still some rough and tough seas for crews to cross yet, before relaxing in the European summer.