Work is progressing apace to support the first participation of an Abu Dhabi team through the Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing consortium in next year's Volvo Ocean Race. Alongside team involvement, Abu Dhabi will also become the first ever Middle East port of call at the end of the second leg, which starts from Cape Town.

"We expect delivery of Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing's Volvo 70 competitive racing yacht in May 2011," His Excellency Mubarak Al Muhairi, director general of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), told IBI. "We are currently finalising a selection of six tender qualifiers from throughout the Middle East, Europe and the Far East — one of which is Abu Dhabi Mar (a local yacht builder). A final decision is expected to be made early next month."

Abu Dhabi Mar was previously named as the builder in the launch press release for the team. Another recent news report suggests that Australian builder McConaghy will also construct the yacht, but this has yet to be confirmed. McConaghy has already built yachts for the Volvo race, most recently the one for the Green Dragon team.

The possibility of building the boat in Abu Dhabi is part of the project. "Whilst this is a consideration, it is our primary aim to design and manufacture the most competitive racing yacht available to us, which will allow Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing to contest for a podium finish," Al Muhairi says. Investment in the boat is not being divulged while the project is under tender.

As to the designer, IBI understands that a decision has been made and that the successful candidate will be announced next week. "The design firm appointment followed an ADTA approach to two international companies, one from the USA and the other from Europe," Al Muhairi said. "The final design geometry will be completed for a mid-September build start."

Participation by Abu Dhabi in all aspects of the team entry will be undertaken. Both in the design and build areas promoting these among local people who may wish to share in the activities will be done in the future.

Al Muhairi told IBI: "Since announcing Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing in March 2011, we have said we are committed to including a UAE national in the sporting team and another two on the shore team. An open selection process will begin next month in the emirate, with final appointments expected in the first quarter of 2011."

The Volvo race will further help Abu Dhabi in achieving its ambition to become a key yachting destination. "The economic and destination benefits of the Volvo Ocean Race are outweighed only by the infrastructural and inspirational legacy associated with the hosting of this event," said Al Muhairi. "Millions around the world will see all Abu Dhabi has to offer, many more will be a part of the famed Arabian hospitality synonymous with the emirate. The Volvo Ocean Race epitomises that pursuit as it takes Abu Dhabi into the global yachting spotlight whilst also engaging the local community, both critical in defining the emirate's maritime heritage for many years to come."

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Superyacht Business / David Robinson, 1 September 2010