From 28 April to 3 May the five Volvo Extreme 40 catamarans, representing the Netherlands, Great Britain and America, will be locked in battle as they go head to head, providing an exciting spectacle for the public.
With the Volvo Open 70's, that are participating in the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-06, undergoing maintenance work this week after arriving into Baltimore on the 17 April from Rio de Janeiro, the Volvo Extreme 40's will provide the entertainment on the Inner Harbour.
The Volvo Extreme 40's will compete in up to four races a day with the series pausing on Saturday 29 April for the Volvo Open 70's to participate in the in-port race. The series will culminate in a final showdown on 3 May when the winner of the Baltimore round will be crowned, adding a valuable ten points towards their overall series points.
The Volvo Extreme 40 is a strict one-design catamaran that has already become one of the most dynamic multihulls on the inshore racing circuit. The boats are capable of reaching 35 knots in flat waters and in six knots of breeze can fly one hull, making them a must see for spectator's.
The class made its debut at the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-06 start port of Sanxenxo, Galicia, Spain at the end of last year, attracting some of the world's top sailors and bringing together the world of offshore yachting with Olympic and dinghy sailing talent.
Racing commences on Friday 28 at 1400 (local time).
Overall Series Rankings (after two events)
1 Tommy Hilfiger 16 pts
2 Basilica 15 pts
3 Motorola - CHR 12 pts
4 Volvo Ocean Race 12 pts
5 Holmatro 11 pts
Remaining Volvo Extreme 40 Grand Prix Series Dates
Portsmouth, UK 27 May - 3 June, 2006
Rotterdam, Netherlands 9-14 June, 2006
For a complete list of all the news about the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-2006 CLICK HERE.
