There are several sailing events of international importance that are ongoing this weekend and next. Foremost among them is the Volvo Ocean Race that starts from Alicante. There is also a middle sea race that would span 608 miles and would start from Valletta which is a harbor area in Malta. The third event to look out for is the Annual Student Yachting World championship that is in its 37th edition and was flagged off from Frioul islands which is off the coast of Marseilles. This race concludes this weekend, which would be completing five days of consequent races.
Among all these races the Volvo Ocean Race is eminent which is inevitable. This event has a lot of glitz and glamor attached to it as it will carry on through winter and continues till June 2018 when the contenders will be reaching Cape Horn or Cape of Good Hope. The race would finish at The Hague in The Netherlands. This race has a predominant European flavor, though the Chinese connections are also evident. This race will have seven skippers among whom one skipper position underwent a change when a replacement had to be sought as there was a budget overrun issue. The first leg of the race starts this weekend from the Alicante harbor of Spain, which is located on the Iberian Peninsula. The first leg continues till Lisbon in Portugal which would span 1450 miles. There are stars like Damian Foxall and Annalise Murphy, who are sailors on Volvo 65 One Designs and would be holding the attention of most people. Damian being a boy from Derrynane has proven himself in several international sailing events, Annalise Murphy has signed up to be part of the Turn the Tide on Plastic campaign.