Race Village opening: 27 December 2017
Average ETA: 28 December 2017
In-Port Race: N/A*
Leg Start: 2 January 2018, 3:00 UTC (14:00 Melbourne)
More information can be found on the Melbourne host city website: www.volvooceanracemelbourne.com
Download 3D maps here:
- Melbourne Race Village map (PDF 1.8MB)
- Leg 4 start course map (JPG 617KB)
Melbourne is the sporting and cultural capital of Australia.
Melbourne was the Volvo Ocean Race’s best kept secret until January, when it was unveiled as a surprise addition to the 2017-18 route. A city renowned for hosting annual premium sporting events, such as, the Australian F1 Grand Prix and the Australian Open tennis, the Volvo Ocean Race is in good company. Home to Australia’s best and most stylish shopping, Victoria’s capital has a passion for eating and drinking and supports a flourishing arts scene. The boats will be arriving here around Christmas, which is the perfect time to enjoy the sandy beaches and all the other possible outdoor activities, from white-water rafting to spectacular drives along Victoria's coastline.
*A compressed stopover, there is no time to stage an In-Port Race as the crew get the rest they need before heading back into the Southern Ocean.
The first taste of the Southern Ocean.
The leg from Cape Town to Melbourne will be a tough one both mentally and physically for the sailors as not only will they be submerged into the Southern Ocean but this leg also counts for double points. This arrival will no doubt be one of the most exciting as the teams will be fighting until the very end for those extra points.
Melbourne will also present the Roaring Forties Trophy. The Roaring Forties Trophy is a traditional trophy that is awarded to the crew who has the shortest elapsed time from the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope (18 28 20E) completing all intervening legs, to crossing the longitude of Cape Horn (67 16 20W).
