Volvo Ocean Race

ABN AMRO entered two boats and crews in the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-2006, forming one team in this global race. ABN AMRO ONE was the overall winner.

The Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) is the Formula One of boat racing. It's a nail-biting, adrenaline-filled adventure, requiring courage, stamina and endurance from all participants as they pass through some of the toughest sailing territories in the world.

The sailors race 24 hours a day for up to a month at a time, not stopping and not resting. The goal is top performance through the teamwork and professionalism of some of the world's best sailors.
Two crews
TEAM ABN AMRO was made up of two crews of ten sailors each. They were competing with one another, but they were both aligned under one ABN AMRO banner. There was a fully professional crew on board ABN AMRO ONE, and a crew of young sailors under 30 years old who had never raced in the VOR before on board ABN AMRO TWO.
The VOR offered ABN AMRO an excellent chance to carry its brand and shield around the world, as the race sailed to many of the bank's key markets. The sailors of the ABN AMRO TWO also come from these key markets, and symbolised ABN AMRO's commitment to performance in a competitive global marketplace.

The boats were specially designed 70-foot racing boats (Volvo Open 70), adapted to the needs of the team. There were seven cameras and the latest in nautical navigation equipment on board both boats, helping to share the challenge and the excitement of the race.

Long distance
The VOR (formerly the Whitbread Round the World Race) started in Spain in November 2005, and finished in June 2006. A total of 31,000 nautical miles (35,674 miles or 57,412 kilometres) was travelled by the teams during nine ocean legs (see above right). There were in-port races at seven cities in-between the legs of the race.

The VOR has taken place every four years since 1973 and is now perceived as the world's premier ocean yacht race. Volvo took over sponsoring the event from Whitbread in 1998.

Find out more about TEAM ABN AMRO in the Volvo Ocean Race.

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