The commercialisation of the Volvo

[Guest]

This was on the Volvos home page and confirms everything that a number of people on crew have been thinking which has lead to the degrading of the event as it has been known. Hopefully they throw this model out the window as it is based on $$$$$$$$$$$ and not a true test of boat and crew.

 

The race’s inevitable path towards commercialisation began when it was still known as the Whitbread with the advent of professionally crewed teams supported by brands like Steinlager, Rothmans and Fisher & Paykel, who were happy to fund those campaigns for a return on their marketing dollars.

 

Volvo’s acquisition of the race has only seen the rate of change quicken. The Volvo Ocean Race fleet in 2011-12 is backed by major companies and brands such as PUMA, Groupama, CAMPER and Telefónica, and by the tourism authorities of destination venues Abu Dhabi and Sanya.

 

The importance of the business side of the race is certainly not lost on the sailors. Ken Read, who skippers PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG, is crystal clear about the significance of the race visiting emerging commercial markets.

 

“I get a kick out of it every time people ask or I read why doesn't the Volvo Ocean Race still do the traditional route around the world, that the Whitbread race did,” Read said.

 

“The fact is we live in a new world. The commercialisation of every sport is real.

 

“I do know for a fact that PUMA never would have gotten into the last race if we weren't going to China.

 

“I'm in the business of winning a sailboat race and selling clothes, sneakers and propellers. The best way to do that is to do well in this race.

 

“The fact is that we're in the Middle East, that we go to China, that we go to these different places around the world, otherwise all of our sponsors wouldn't be here.”

 

“This is huge for BERG coming to the Middle East. It's real. The old days are gone, the new days are here. As sailors we have to adapt and I think the race itself has adapted very well.”

 

British double Olympic medallist and Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing skipper Ian Walker said he hoped the race’s first visit to the United Arab Emirates would also leave behind a lasting legacy of sailing in the region.

 

“It's very exciting for this sort of sailing to come to Abu Dhabi,” he said. “Abu Dhabi has a strong history of sailing and I have been lucky enough to be out on the water when there was 120 local dhows racing.

 

“I thought the welcome from the public was absolutely thrilling when we arrived and I hope Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing inspires young people to take up the sport and maybe we'll see a big growth in sailing here.”

 

CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand skipper, Chris Nicholson said the race’s route this time had given his crew a welcome opportunity experience racing into new destinations like Abu Dhabi.

 

“We could have done the traditional route where you know what you get,” he said. “This has been a fantastic surprise and as a team we're very grateful to be able to come here to Abu Dhabi.

 

“Right from day one with the entry of Abu Dhabi Racing into the Volvo Ocean Race I thought it would be a cool opportunity to see this part of world.

 

“The welcoming we had last night, the level of organization and how vibrant the city and the people are is really nice to come and see.”

 

Race CEO Knut Frostad, a twice-former Volvo Ocean Race skipper, says as well as being a good bet commercially, the route for this edition of the race should please the sailing fans.

 

“The course this time takes the sailors to places they have not raced to before and presents them with lots of new challenges.

 

“We now have a full-on Southern Ocean leg that should please the sailing fans. When the fleet leaves Auckland the boats will enter the Southern Ocean as a pack and that should make for close racing on the way to Itajaí in Brazil.”

[Guest]

Well, they would say that wouldn't they?

[SloopJohnB 322]

..... and they even get paid for say that.

[markm 30]

Typical press release hoping people accept what they say and face value and don't apply tawdry and inconvenient facts to their spin.

 

Perhaps they've heard of the Vendee Globe, a little race that has stuck to it's beginnings and not changed in the face of increasing comercialisation.

 

When the VOR organisers were patting themselves on their backs last race for getting was it 8 entries, the VG had 24 and were turning more away.

 

This time the financial crisis has hit, VOR down to six and the VG looks to be around 15 or so. I'll conceed though the VG competitors aren't paid as much but who do you thinks got it right?

 

The facts are the more comercial and 'professional' the VOR has become, the fewer entries they get. One day the organisers will have to wake up and ask themselves hard questions about their declining numbers instead of presenting convenient excuses as to why they get worse.

 

It's that or die, many good events have died by not recognising another fact of human nature, if you pander to only the very best and aren't interested in the rest, then the rest won't be interested in you either and the number the constitutes 'only the very best' is a number between 1 and about 3.

 

The event has to be more than a purely professional event supporting comercial interests if it is to survive. I'd suggest the traditional route is one component in doing that and if they try sticking to what originally made the event popular then the odds of it staying popular are a whole lot better. Your specific sponsors may change but they only need look at their own history if they want evidence that sponsors will support an event in the middle of nowhere if it's a good event.

 

Phrased more succinctly, a good event brings the sponsors, sponsors don't make a good event.

[Guest Crafty 1]

Well well well...

 

an interview with poeple who have a finacial interest...

 

and guess what....

 

 

They tell us how good it is.....

 

 

Not! .... wheres the "chunder" Icon?

 

If it's that good then why do only 4.5 boats compete.

 

And don't nobody tell me there's a financial recession when the number of millionaires and billionaires has increased!...

 

 

...only the poor are still poor, problem is there is more of them as they keep reproducing

 

also, when a small counties like NZ can throw $40million a a select few sailors on the pretext that they might win something, then that says it all.

[Guest Crafty 1]

I dare anybody to tell us all something negative about themselves to the press!

 

Where are the critics to these people?... have they alll been silenced or are they only here on Crew?

[Guest]

I think it is cute that there are some out there that still think that sailing at this level is a sport and not a business. It’s a competitive business selling advertizing. Those that think that corporations just give away sponsorship dollars at this level as a tax right off are deluded. The teams have to show a tangible return for there advertisers. The race needs the teams yes but the teams (businesses) also need the race, lets face it all the teams a selling is a billboard the race gives them somewhere to put it. Yes the sailors want to win the event but they don’t care where it goes they just want to win and get paid each month. Just like any employee. The reality of this point upsets a few people; because a) they don't like the idea of people getting paid to do there hobby or they are jealous. But remember this is not a hobby it's an advertizing business employing the best people to do a job.

 

Hopefully they throw this model out the window as it is based on $$$$$$$$$$$ and not a true test of boat and crew.

 

So we don’t like the course get over it, they are cool boats sailed by some bloody good sailors funded by guys in suits without which we would be watching the clipper race thinking that was exciting. because without the money that's what we would have shity old barges sailed by retired old housewives.

 

I don’t like the route any more than anybody but If the Volvo going to the Middle East or China develops a few more yachting philanthropists out of those regions I’m all for it.

[Clipper 343]

You have a point Booger, but don't forget that if no one watches the event, the advertisers don't get any return, so it will die. And in my opinion, the race has gone too far in that direction. If there were 10-15 boats racing this course, it might be a diffeent story, but with so few boats, doing such a bizarre course, I barely follow the race.

 

Take this site as an example. 8 people took a stab at who would win leg 2? My point being no one cares. If no one cares, no one watches, no revenue can be generated can it...?

 

Having said all that, I can't wait till the boats get here, they are awesome boats, awesoe sailors, and I hope there is 15+ knots for them to blast around our harbour in!

[Guest]

So, acknowledging that there are right points being made by nearly every competing view here...

 

... Facts: The Vendee Globe and the Volvo are two different events, somewhat similar in nature, operating in the same economic environment. The VG has more people signing up to it than the Volvo does, and the size of the Volvo fleet is at the minimal end of the spectrum (3 boats finished leg 1).

 

So, why is the VG getting a bigger fleet?

[rigger 47]

So, why is the VG getting a bigger fleet?

 

costs less?

[Guest]

We only think this is a bizarre course because we remember the days of the boats heading off to the southern ocean.

Though New Zealand has a long and impressive history in this event we don’t even make it into the top twenty country’s that the organizers look at as there key markets. we are relagated into the rest of world figures between norway and the czech republic, we don't even make a bump in there marketing data.

So get over the fact that some sentimental old New Zealand sailors want to keep things the way they have always been get into the modern world and embrace the race for what it is. Great boats, great sailors, interesting course.

[Clipper 343]

So get over the fact that some sentimental old New Zealand sailors want to keep things the way they have always been get into the modern world and embrace the race for what it is. Great boats, great sailors, interesting course.

 

I disagree on the 'interesting course' bit, however, you can't argue that 5 and half boats is a great fleet!

[Guest]

So we don’t like the course get over it, they are cool boats sailed by some bloody good sailors funded by guys in suits without which we would be watching the clipper race thinking that was exciting. because without the money that's what we would have shity old barges sailed by retired old housewives.

I bet ya very big amounts of cold beer more people worldwide would watch 6 Clippers race across the Atlantic than would watch the 70's............. especially if the Clippers were crews by housewives.

 

I'd also bet more sponsors would put their name on the Clippers.

[Guest Crafty 1]

So we don’t like the course get over it, they are cool boats sailed by some bloody good sailors funded by guys in suits without which we would be watching the clipper race thinking that was exciting. because without the money that's what we would have shity old barges sailed by retired old housewives.

I bet ya very big amounts of cold beer more people worldwide would watch 6 Clippers race across the Atlantic than would watch the 70's............. especially if the Clippers were crews by housewives.

 

I'd also bet more sponsors would put their name on the Clippers.

 

You're spot on there!

 

what i think this all reflects is we don't have a lot of choices and we are picking the best of a bad bunch.

 

Also the commeialization, while some think it may have saved the sport, has taken it to a whole new level of cost that prohibits 98% of sailors.

 

Also our yacht racing has become like "Celebrity Treasure island" without the celeb's.

 

Where are all the innovators? Knot me's idea above is quite smart really! Richard Branson would be into that with Tits on!

 

There's nothing stopping any yacht club inventing their own event i suppose. All it takes is two boat a start / finish line and a clock

[Guest Rocket]

Call me old fashioned but a round the world race should be around the world not from photo shoot to photo shoot. This arrangement is a cock up - anyone can see that. I still watch it but with ntg like the interest I would have in a proper race. 5.5 boats barely that ... The boats are probably incapable of managing a round trip and so they should be they are built to win this style of rally. Ya won't see wharves packed at 3:00 am to welcome these boats into port.

 

I am quietly confident that this period of sponsors running the show and proffessional athletes being paid more than a King's ransom to deign to play is a short term blip in the scheme of things. Clearly rugby salaries are totally unsustainable as I would suggest are footballers salaries (or at least will be when we run out of Russians and Saudis with huge amounts of funds of questionable origin). Sport isn't about this sort of thing - I pray we will see a resurgence of real sport - guys like that Jacko dude the shotputter - there is a story that has real human interest!

 

As to this racing increasing the interest in China or similar places - I think you dream. I would guess (yes guess totally unsullied by the need for facts) that a tiny percentage of China even knew it was happening. Looks more like a wank by the sponsors. And I freely admit that I don't understand the logic/motives of the sponsors or indeed the whole advertising malarky.

[SloopJohnB 322]

How much air time will this get?

 

 

World ARC 2012-13: Circumnavigation Rally Starts

26 boats in the World ARC fleet departed Rodney Bay Marina in Saint Lucia on Sunday, at the start of an epic 26,000 mile adventure around the world in 15 months. World ARC is a circumnavigation rally for cruising boats, with a mix of organised stages and free cruising.

In 15-20 knots of classic Caribbean sailing conditions, Karsten and Sheila Witt's X-55 Gunvr XL (CAN) was the first boat away, followed by John O'Connor's Discovery 67 Sapphire II (USA) and Dmitry Maslov's Jeanneau 57 Piligrim. The boats have 1100 miles ahead of them before exploring the San Blas islands of Panama, where another five boats will join World ARC.

The 31-strong fleet will then transit the Panama Canal before setting off across the Pacific for Australia, stopping at some of the most idyllic Pacific islands en route, including Galapagos, Hiva Oa, Tahiti, Bora Bora, Niue, Vava'u, Fiji and Vanuatu.

Some boats will leave the rally in Australia, with more joining for the restart of the second half of the adventure from Darwin in September 2012. Avoiding the troubled areas of the Indian Ocean, the World ARC route takes in Bali, Cocos Keeling, Mauritius and Reunion before enjoying Christmas and New Year in South Africa. From Cape Town the boats will visit St Helena, before enjoying carnival in Brazil and then heading back into the Caribbean via Grenada to finish in Saint Lucia in April 2013.

In total 39 boats and over 200 people will take part in World ARC 2012-13; some sailing the full 26,000 miles, others joining for a stage. The largest boat is 20.8m Discovery 67 Sapphire II (USA), and the smallest is 11.96m Beneteau Oceanis 393 Glamorous Galah (AUS). The fleet includes five catamarans, three of which started in Saint Lucia.

www.worldcruising.com/worldarc2012/index.aspx

[Guest]

I dont question the crews ability or that the boats are awesome. Its just the course and the reason why they are doing the course. Sure their would have been less or no boats entered if they didnt go to all the ports that they are going to. If it works for them and More than 10 boats enter in the next edition then I will humbly eat my words and congratulate the organisers on making it a good event.

[Guest]

Clipper, i said "great boats" not a "great fleet"

 

but in saying that I would rather watch 5 closely matched highly competitive boats than 10 or 20 boats spread all across the ocean.

[Guest Crafty 1]

Call me old fashioned but a round the world race should be around the world not from photo shoot to photo shoot. This arrangement is a cock up - anyone can see that. I still watch it but with ntg like the interest I would have in a proper race. 5.5 boats barely that ... The boats are probably incapable of managing a round trip and so they should be they are built to win this style of rally. Ya won't see wharves packed at 3:00 am to welcome these boats into port.

 

I am quietly confident that this period of sponsors running the show and proffessional athletes being paid more than a King's ransom to deign to play is a short term blip in the scheme of things. Clearly rugby salaries are totally unsustainable as I would suggest are footballers salaries (or at least will be when we run out of Russians and Saudis with huge amounts of funds of questionable origin). Sport isn't about this sort of thing - I pray we will see a resurgence of real sport - guys like that Jacko dude the shotputter - there is a story that has real human interest!

 

As to this racing increasing the interest in China or similar places - I think you dream. I would guess (yes guess totally unsullied by the need for facts) that a tiny percentage of China even knew it was happening. Looks more like a wank by the sponsors. And I freely admit that I don't understand the logic/motives of the sponsors or indeed the whole advertising malarky.

Totally Agree.

 

I would rather see 20 boats sailed by amatuers doing the old course and not sailing to places that "buy a port".

 

The spirit of adventure has been compromised by Media and sponsor Hype.

 

An example is - why could they not sail past a few Somali Pirates? bloody poofters i think!

[Guest]

Hooray for the Jester Challenge.

http://www.jesterinfo.org/

34 entries to date.