The VO60 Brasil 1 will be sponsored by Vivo – Brazil’s biggest mobile ‘phone operator, Motorola, Qualcomm and the Brazilian government – during next year’s Volvo Ocean Race. Brazil’s Torben Grael, fresh from more gold medal success at the recent Athens Olympic Games will be the skipper.

The chosen designer is American-based Farr Yacht Design and construction will begin shortly at ML Boatworks in Indaiatuba, Sao Paulo, Brazil. This project is seen by the Brazilian public and business sectors as an excellent opportunity for Brazil to promote it’s primary companies and products all over the world.

“Having reached the pinnacle in short course sailing, now is my chance to do the same in ocean racing,” says Grael, who has also been part of two America’s Cup campaigns and sailed part of The Whitbread in 1997-98. Former star class world champion, Alan Adler, will lead Brasil 1 together with Enio Ribeiro, a marketing executive with an industry and sports background.

Chatting about the recent sponsorship announcement Glenn Bourke, CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race said: “This is a very exciting time for us, we ended last week with confirmation of another three teams in our race, having started the week with the news that one potential team sponsor had slipped away. As any sports organiser will tell you, ‘some you win, some you lose’ – this is the nature of the business.

“This announcement is the first of several more that we will be making over the coming weeks, with the next announcement coming from a European team whilst emerging out of the USA, is one of the most exciting campaigns the race has ever seen. We are proud to have confirmed entries from a greater spread of countries than the event has had for many years.”

“We are in an extremely strong position now with the fleet set to exceed the last race’s total of eight boats. I am absolutely confident that the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-06 will be one to remember”.