NEW: Dates Set for Volvo Ocean Race's Return to RI in May of 2018
GoLocalProv Sports Team
NEW: Dates Set for Volvo Ocean Race's Return to RI in May of 2018
Return to Newport
The boards are expected to arrive in Newport between May 8 and 10, with the in-port racing taking place from May 17-19 and the leg departure to Wales on May 20.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe public race village is expected to open on May 8.
This comes after the Newport stopover in 2015 was the race's only North American stop and was an success.
"Newport hosted the most successful North American stopover in the race's history and Rhode Island will be ready again with an enthusiastic family-friendly public festival and celebration in May 2018," said Sail Newport Executive Director Brad Read.
During the 12 day stopover in 2015, the race village at Fort Adams State Park saw 125,000 fans come through and participate in the various events taking place. That number is five times the population of Newport and five times the number of visitors that the previous U.S. Stopover had in Miami three years earlier.
After Newport, the boats will head to Cardiff, Wales for the first time.
"The transatlantic race between Newport, RI and Cardiff promises to be one of the real highlights of the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18," said Antonio Bolaños López, acting CEO, Volvo Ocean Race.
Volvo Ocean Race
The Volvo Ocean Race is a 2,000 nautical mile transatlantic race known as one of the toughest tests for sailors. In 2006, a sailor was lost overboard and a boat sunk in two separate incidents on a leg from New York to Portsmouth, England.
Other stopovers that have already been announced include Alicante (Spain), Cape Town (South Africa), Auckland (New Zealand), Lisbon (Portugal) and Gothenburg (Sweden).