Start of 2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race

Remember all the fun we had in Galway for the finale of the 2011-2012 Volvo Ocean Race when thousands thronged the quays to welcome in the boats? The finale and festival broke all attendance records for a sporting event in this country.

Well, it's that time again and the 2014/15 Race will kick off in under 48 hours from the port of Alicante, in Spain, where 66 sailors are contemplating nearly 39,000 miles and nine months of sailing's toughest offshore crewed racing which will see them battle the elements for their very survival.

This will be the 12th edition of the famous endurance race. Leg 1 will see the seven-strong fleet en route to Cape Town sailing in a new one-design boat, the Volvo Ocean 65, which is built for durability.

The seven teams are: Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, Team Alvimedica, Team Brunel, Dongfeng Race Team, Team Espana, Team SCA and Team Vestas Wind.

Alas, there will be no Irish stop-over this time round. The Race will finish in Gothenburg located on the west coast of Sweden. It's also home to Volvo, so it's no stranger to the race and previous editions have both visited and finished here. It's a city of half a million people and a long history as a shipping and maritime centre.

Photo by David Ramos