The Hindu Business Line : Volvo Ocean Race will pull in at Kochi in December

The Race Director of Volvo Ocean Race, Mr Andy Hindley, hands over a memento to the Kerala Home and Tourism Minister, Mr Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, after signing the Kochi stopover port agreement, at Kochi on Friday. Mr N. Ramachandran, Chairman of the Cochin Port Trust, is at right.

Our Bureau

Kochi, Jan. 18 Kochi is all set to become the only stopover port in India for the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09, the world’s premier offshore yacht race.

The Kochi Stopover agreement was signed here on Friday by Mr Andy Hindley, Race Director, Volvo Ocean Race; Mr N. Ramachandran, Chairman, Cochin Port Trust, and Mr K.G. Mohanlal, Managing Director, Kerala Tourism Development Corporation, in the presence of Mr Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, the State Tourism Minister.

Kochi is the only stopover in India and the other stopover ports include Cape Town, Singapore, Qingdao, Rio de Janeiro, Boston, Galway, Goteborg, and Stockholm. The race, which starts in October this year from Spain, will conclude at St Petersburg in July 2009. It will cover a total of 39,325 nautical miles and touch 12 ports in the world.

Referred to as the ‘Everest of Sailing’, the Volvo Ocean Race is one of the world’s most demanding and daring team sporting events. The seven yachts participating in the race will arrive in Kochi in December and will stay for 10 days before starting the next leg to Sentosa Island in Singapore.

Why not Mumbai?

Mr Hindley told reporters that Kochi has been preferred to Mumbai considering the location, infrastructure, deep water close to the shore, and the backing of port and government authorities. This edition of the race will feature 11 ocean legs, seven inshore races and shorter stopovers in a route that touches the hitherto uncharted territories of Asia, he said.

Dr Venu V., Secretary, Kerala Tourism, said that the investment for hosting the event is estimated at Rs 5 crore and the fund would be raised through sponsorship. Proximity to international shipping routes has already made Kochi a preferred destination for yachts and cruise ships travelling to South East Asia and Australia, and the race will further add a new dimension to Kochi’s maritime prospects, he said.

Race village

The Port Chairman said that though the port did not enjoy the industrial hinterland activities to generate more traffic, it has decided to support the tourism industry, which is considered to be one of the largest industries in the State.

A race village covering 2.5 acres of land will be set up near the BTP Berth and the race will enhance Kochi’s standing as the hub of leisure sailing and cruising. The conduct of the race would also give further boost to the proposed cruise terminal project envisaged by the port under its integrated development plan, he added.

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