South Tyneside College in the North-East of England has beaten off stiff completion from specialist centres in Spain and the UK’s South Coast, to host training sessions for the Volvo Race crews.

Alistair Hackett, General Manager of Ocean Safety, said: “We chose [Tyneside] because of its?ability to respond to our specialist needs. The race organisers required that the training be made far more realistic this year to ensure that the competitors are fully prepared to face whatever the race may throw at them.”

“We are now looking forward to welcoming some of the world’s most talented yachtsmen?and giving them a taste of our famous North-East hospitality,” added Tushar Bijur, Head of the Marine Safety Training Centre.