Newport to host Volvo Ocean Race

The port of Newport, Rhode Island has won a place on the Volvo Ocean Race 12th edition for the first time.

The Race will reach Newport, one of the world's sailing capitals, around May 2015 after a stop in Itajai, Brazil. From Newport, the teams will sail across the Atlantic for the final legs around Europe.

The Volvo Ocean Race has visited the United States in every edition since 1989-90 but despite Newport's great sailing heritage, it has never before had Host Port status.

Rhode Island is known as the Ocean State and for over 50 years Newport was the home of the America's Cup.

We picture the fleet as they power away from the start line in the Pro-Am Race in Lorient, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 which finished in Galway. (Pic by Paul Todd/Volvo Ocean Race).