Media release
8 March 2012

Volvo Ocean Race on water instructions

With the arrival of the Volvo Ocean Race yachts in Auckland this weekend, the Harbourmaster has put in place safety measures all harbour users must follow for duration of the Stopover.

The first boat is expected to sail into port this weekend. The Auckland Stopover will include two Inner Waitemata Harbour Volvo Sailing events (that start and finish at the Viaduct Village) on Friday 16 and Saturday 17 March before their departure at 2pm on Sunday 18 March.

Harbourmaster Andrew Hayton says all those out on the harbour during this time must firstly be aware of the course buoyed with yellow Harbourmaster and Volvo event marks.

“The Volvo Race course area has been designed to provide fast, up close sailing action within the confines of the Inner Waitemata Harbour. This type of course means restrictions are in place as a safety measure for those racing and others out on their boats enjoying this great event,” he says.

For the duration of the three-day sailing event, the following restrictions will be in place:

• All vessels to keep clear and out of the course area marked with yellow Harbourmaster and Volvo buoys

• Spectator crafts are requested to anchor early around the course area

• A five knot speed restriction will be in place from the Auckland Harbour Bridge to North Head for the duration of racing

• Access along the southern shore commercial port area from Wynyard to Fergusson Wharf will be restricted to commercial ferry operators only

• Wake is to be kept to a minimum around the course

• All vessels are to have a listening watch on VHF Channel 12. On the day course details and sailing instructions will be broadcast to mariners along with ferry and shipping movements.

• “All mariners need to maintain a good lookout and exercise caution when transiting the Inner Waitemata Harbour over the event. We ask everyone to please listen to the instructions from the marshal /patrol craft that will be managing the event along with Harbourmaster and Police who will be patrolling the course.”

Ends

Notes to the editor:
Volvo Ocean Race Auckland Stopover races details are as follows:

FRIDAY 16 MARCH PRO-AM RACES
The Volvo fleet will assemble outside the Viaduct Harbour for three Pro-Am races starting at 12 noon and finishing no later than 3 pm. The yachts will compete in a three-race programme with a sailing course set to ensure the yachts are racing for 20 minutes each race. Depending on the weather Volvo turning marks will be laid mid channel east of Devonport Wharf and off Westhaven Marina.

SATURDAY 17 MARCH VOLVO IN-PORT RACE
The Volvo In-port Race awards points to syndicates in the overall Volvo Ocean Race series. Again, the Volvo fleet will line up at the start/finish box outside the Viaduct Harbour. Racing will start at 2 pm with a sailing course taking the fleet under the Auckland Harbour Bridge to a mark off Rona Buoy, the fleet will then sail to marks off Orakei Wharf and possibly up to Rough Rock, North Head. The sailing committee will set the In-Port race course subject to weather conditions, ensuring that the yachts finish within 60 minutes. The race is weather dependent and therefore subject to change with respect to the direction the yachts will start and the placement of Volvo marks been set by the race committee. Please listen on VHF channel 12 for race course details and updates.

SUNDAY 18 MARCH VOLVO DEPARTURE
The Volvo Ocean Race fleet will clear the Viaduct Village at 1pm for leg 5 Auckland to Itajai. The Volvo start box will be set east of the Auckland Harbour Bridge off Westhaven Marina. The race start is 2 pm. The Volvo fleet will sail down the Waitemata Harbour to a mark mid stream east of Devonport Wharf, the fleet will then round the Volvo turning mark and again head back up Waitemata Harbour to a Volvo turning mark east of the Harbour Bridge. The fleet will then head out of the Waitemata Harbour rounding a Volvo mark off Rough Rock before heading up the Rangitoto Channel to two further marks, the first approximately 0 .7 nautical miles off Campbells Bay and the second and final Volvo mark 0.6 nautical miles east of Browns Bay reef.

For the Auckland departure, the Volvo Race organisers are wishing to keep the race fleet within the Inner Waitemata Harbour for approximately 40 minutes providing maximum exposure for the land and on water spectators. Given the speed of competing craft and the relatively short distance between marks it is essential that spectator craft anchor north or south of the Inner Waitemata course area. Once the fleet round the Rough Rock Volvo mark off North Head patrol/marshal craft will allow spectator vessels to escort the racing yachts up the Rangitoto Channel and East Coast Bay’s Volvo turning marks. All vessels must keep abeam or astern of the race fleet. It is critical that the racing yachts have clear water ahead as the yachts are deceptively fast.

© Scoop Media