There may still be a week to go before the eight boat fleet leaves on the 2008/9 Volvo Ocean Race, but the organisers and sponsors are so keen to show their continued commitment that they have already announced the 2011/12 event.
At a press conference held at the race village in Alicante on the day after the first in port race, VOR CEO Knut Frostad and Leif Johansson, President and CEO Volvo Group, announced their plans for the next race.
“One of our key objectives today is to start the planning process as early as possible for the next race. This is essential for all the teams and partners involved,” said Frostad who, as a former competitor is well aware of the event’s previous history and appears keen to make big changes in the way it is run. Certainly the chaos that surrounds plans for the next America’s Cup will have provided a further reminder as to how important it is to keep the ball rolling.
In addition to the publication of dates and timings for the next event, The race organisation will hold a 2011-12 race seminar in Alicante on October 12 with over 120 delegates attending including those of potential teams.

The Volvo Ocean Race timetable in the build-up to the 2011-12 race is as follows:

November 2008 Start Port bid process
July 2009 Announcing Volvo Open 70 Rule version 3
August 2009 Publication of Preliminary Notice of Race/Race format
March 2010 Publication of Final Route
April 2010 Publication of Final Notice of Race
August-October 2011 Start, Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012