Ocean Race Visits Boston's Fan Pier

The Only North American Stop-over For Around The World Yacht Race

Feb 13, 2009

The last few legs of the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race are underway and before the event concludes in St. Petersburg Russia, teams will spend nearly a month in Boston, MA.

April showers bring May flowers but in the world of yacht racing, April will welcome some of the World's most extreme athletes to shores of Massachusetts. The Volvo Ocean Race visits Boston's Fan Pier from mid- April thru May 16th. This will be the only port visited by this elite sailing event.

What To Expect While The Sailors Are In Town

Every port involved with the Volvo Ocean Race offers public activities at no cost. The event's goal is to offer a unique experience to anyone interested in adventure, science and technology and human drama. Race village, built on and around the Fan Pier property will officially open mid-morning on the 24th of April and remain open to the boats leave for Galway Ireland mid-May.

Reasons To Visit Boston During Stop-over Event

An individual does not have to understand or enjoy sailing at all to have a memorable experience in Boston this Spring. The Race Village will be set up in the heart of Boston's historic port district and aside from the many activities provided, within an short walk or train ride from Fan Pier are incredible museums, restaurants and public parks. Here’s a short list of must sees:

Important Stop-over Dates And Events

If your time is short and visit brief there are a few key events worth attending. The opening ceremony, though prior to the teams' arrival from Rio De Janeiro is one massive party with all of Boston’s finest in attendance. The teams will be arriving days after and another high-light, emotions and energy will be high. The stop-over in Rio will be very short and many of the sailors will not have seen their loved ones since they left China the 14th of February.

The sailors' arrivals in Boston will be memorable and once all the teams settle in the true party begins, in addition to the next stop-over highlight: world class sailors everywhere. Next up on the “must-dos” is the in-port race on May ninth. Visitors will be able to see the sailors off, catch a ride on spectator boats, see it broadcast on monitors around the village and T.V. That evening will the last big party till the teams leave for Ireland on the 16th.

Once again, spectators and guest to Boston will be able to see the teams off, watch the start and then join the “arm-chair” community as the race will pack up the Boston Village and move on to the next port till the 2011-12 event makes it way back to North America.

The copyright of the article Ocean Race Visits Boston's Fan Pier in Sail Boats is owned by Jennifer Langille. Permission to republish Ocean Race Visits Boston's Fan Pier in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.