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9 November 2005, 09:23 am

Preparations Continue

Volvo Ocean Race 2005-2006

Sanxenxo, Galicia, Spain

Preparations are continuing apace for the start of leg one of the Volvo Ocean Race from Vigo, Spain to Cape Town, South Africa on 12 November. The transition from Sanxenxo, the scene of Saturday's in-port race, to the ocean leg start port of Vigo is underway. The job will be completed with a parade of sail by the Volvo Open 70 fleet to Vigo on Friday afternoon.

In the interim period, most of the crews assembled in Sanxenxo continue their tuning programmes with Ericsson and Brasil 1, first and second respectively in the in-port race, prominent among those out on the water in the past few days.

In fact Brasil 1 has had little time to celebrate their surprise result on Saturday. Skipper Torben GRAEL (BRA), never one to rest on his laurels, has been ramping up the workload for his crew.

Squalls and heavy showers curtailed movistar's early morning efforts today and caused a delay to the third round of the Volvo Extreme 40 series. Conditions are likely to be more favourable for the rest of the week.

Premier Challenge continues its race against time to meet the measurement criteria to be on the start line. Grant WHARINGTON's (AUS) shore crew has been burning the midnight oil in an effort to get the Aussie entry race ready. 'We're up against it but we're pushing like mad,' WHARINGTON said. Pirates are also out near the dry dock area undergoing rig work.

In Vigo, the finishing touches are being applied to the port facilities. The Race Village is taking shape, the Media Centre is being readied for an influx of international media expected to be approaching 500. Spanish TV will broadcast the start live and a number of national radio stations have also scheduled coverage of the drama as it unfolds.

The Swedish Ship Götheborg, which will be used as the official start boat, arrived yesterday to Vigo and a surprise guest has been lined up to fire the starting cannon.

For Saturday's start, early indications suggest that the crowd in Vigo will comfortably eclipse the 30,000 who witnessed the in-port race in Sanxenxo.