Lorient will return as the penultimate stopover in the Volvo Ocean Race for the 12th edition in 2014-15, completing a route that will test the world’s best professional sailors to the limit in a race lasting almost nine months and 40,000 nautical miles.

The Race will start on 4 October 2014 with the first In-Port Race in Alicante, and finish with a final In-Port Race on 27 June 2015 in Gothenburg, the Swedish home of Volvo.

The total course distance will be 39,895 nautical miles – the equivalent to 45,910 miles or 73,886 kilometres – and will see the sailors tackle an extra Southern Ocean leg between Recife, Brazil, and Abu Dhabi, UAE, in the brand new Volvo Ocean 65 boats.

CLICK HERE to see route map.

Race CEO Knut Frostad said: “We have a route which we are sure will appeal to every serious offshore sailor, full of super-fast, challenging conditions. The Southern Ocean leg from Recife to Abu Dhabi is the most diverse ever presented in the Race and will contribute to what could turn out to be the toughest Race in our 40-year history.”

“Lorient is France’s sailing capital and the response we had during the last Race was phenomenal,” said Race CEO Frostad. “It will be a real pleasure to come back to this stunning part of the world, where the people are so knowledgeable about the sport and the whole set-up suits the Race so perfectly. Lorient will be a real highlight on the route.”

“From brand new ports like Recife to now familiar stops such as Abu Dhabi, Sanya, Itajaí, Lisbon and Lorient, and classic sailing cities such as Auckland and Newport, this route gives just about the perfect mix of old and new. Add to that the start in Alicante and a mid-summer finish in Gothenburg, my only regret is that I’m not sailing the route myself.”
 
2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race details in full:

Alicante:

In-Port Race: October 4, 2014

Leg Start: October 11, 2014

Leg Distance to Recife: 3,421 nm

Recife:
In-Port Race: November 8, 2014

Leg Start: November 9, 2014

Leg Distance to Abu Dhabi: 9,707 nm

Abu Dhabi:

In-Port Race: January 2, 2015

Leg Start: January 3, 2015

Leg Distance to Sanya: 4,670 nm

Sanya:

In-Port Race: February 7, 2015

Leg Start: February 8, 2015

Leg Distance to Auckland: 5,264 nm

Auckland:

In-Port Race: March 14, 2015

Leg Start: March 15, 2015

Leg Distance to Itajaí: 6,776 nm

Itajaí:

In-Port Race: April 18, 2015

Leg Start: April 19, 2015

Leg Distance to Newport: 5,010 nm

Newport:

In-Port Race: May 16, 2015

Leg Start: May 17, 2015

Leg Distance to Lisbon: 2,800 nm

Lisbon:

In-Port Race: June 6, 2015

Leg Start: June 7, 2015

Leg Distance to Lorient: 647 nm

Lorient:

In-Port Race: to be decided

Leg Start: to be decided

Leg Distance to Gothenburg: 1,600 nm

Gothenburg:

In-Port Race: June 27, 2015

Total Race Distance: 39,895 nautical miles