A Reset for an Ocean Classic

In its near-50-year history the Ocean Race, the original fully-crewed around-the-world yacht race, has hit the reset button a few times—notably when original sponsor Whitbread pulled the plug in the early ‘90s and auto giant Volvo took it over, and then when Volvo went to one-design racing for the classic event.

Now that button has once again been hit, with the most radical shakeup the event has yet seen. Joining the existing Volvo 65 one-design racers on the start line of the 2021-22 event will be a fistful of IMOCA 60s, the powerful foiling monohulls designed and built for shorthanded round-the-world races.

Last year, longtime title sponsor Volvo Motor Group announced that it had sold the race, but would remain on