Get ready for Volvo Ocean Race Game

While seven teams compete in the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race, there’ll be hundreds of thousands more competing in the ultimate virtual sailing challenge: the Volvo Ocean Race Game.

The 2014-15 edition saw over 200,000 online skippers test their skills, charting a virtual course against the real-world fleet as it raced around the world. Volvo Ocean Race is again teaming up with Virtual Regatta, a world leader with over 1 million players annually, to deliver the most realistic way of challenging the best in the world.

At 11 of the stopover ports, the crews switch gears from offshore racing to the in-port races, which are short sprints around coastal race courses. And for the first time, players of the official game have the opportunity to test their skill with an inshore version of the game as well.

The game will available on all online platforms, including iOS and android apps.

The first test leg for the teams and for virtual racers is the Prologue from Lisbon to the home port of the Volvo Ocean Race in Alicante, Spain. Starting at 1350 local time (UTC+1), on Sunday, October 8, the leg is expected to take up to four days – a short, sharp, taster, ahead of Leg One on October 22.

As a player, your boat sails around the clock for each leg, just like in the Volvo Ocean Race. It is up to you to choose the best sail configuration and course to get to the finish line first, taking into account the real-life weather conditions.

Volvo Ocean Race and Virtual Regatta have agreed all revenues generated from the prologue leg will be donated to the Clean Seas campaign, a part of the United Nations Environment Programme.

Key facts:
• Volvo Ocean Race and Virtual Regatta team up on a new Volvo Ocean Race game
• Two games in one – inshore and offshore versions
• Compete against the real Volvo Ocean Race sailors while they’re at sea
• Available on web and iOS and android platforms
• Prologue test racing starting on October 8
• Leg one racing starting on October 22