Volvo Ocean Race – Lisbon on the route of the round-the-world yacht race

From the 25th of May to the 7th of June, Lisbon will once again be a stopover on the transatlantic leg of the Volvo Ocean Race 2014/15. This is a great opportunity to see the world's top sailors and to get to know the city.

For 14 days, the Pedrouços Dock will be welcoming one of the most important sailing events in the world. Lisbon is the only European capital on the route of the competition, which is being held for the 12th time. 

Lisbon was an obvious choice when you consider what a close connection Portugal has had with the sea for many centuries. Belém, the competition venue, is in itself symbolic of the period of the Discoveries, as the setting-off point for the great Portuguese sailors, such as Vasco da Gama (15th century). But the competition is also an opportunity to visit and become acquainted with two monuments classed as UNESCO World Heritage, the Torre de Belém (Belém Tower) and the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Jerónimos Monastery). 

In this historical quarter, you can also visit the Museu dos Coches (National Coach Museum), which from May onwards will be housed in a new building designed by architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha; the Padrão dos Descobrimentos (Monument to the Discoveries); the Museu Nacional de Arqueologia (National Museum of Archaeology); the Museu de Marinha (Maritime Museum); and the Centro Cultural de Belém (Belém Cultural Centre), which houses the Museu Berardo (Berardo Museum), with its impressive contemporary art collection.

From Belém, it takes no more than half an hour by car or tram alongside the river to reach the city centre. The "Baixa", "Chiado", "Bairro Alto" and "Alfama", where the Fado Museum is to be found, as well as the Castelo de São Jorge (St George's Castle) are the city's main attractions and are a must for any visitor to Lisbon. A good way to see the sights is to choose one of our suggested itineraries.
At dinner time, the riverside setting of the huge Praça do Comércio Square, the "Chiado" or the "Bairro Alto" are a good choice, because of the vast array of restaurants, lounges, open-air terraces and viewpoints offering panoramic views of the city.

But the Pedrouços Dock will also be very lively during the event. A "small city" is to be set up in the surrounding space and there will be activities to entertain visitors of all ages while they admire the yachts and rub shoulders with the world's top sailors. The competitors set off for Lisbon from the port of Newport, in the United States, on the 17th of May and will subsequently leave Lisbon for Lorient on the French coast, where they are expected to arrive between the 9th and the 12th of June.

For more information about the Volvo Ocean Race, see www.volvooceanrace.com.

Lisbon Returns for two more Editions - Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15

Lisbon will build on the success of the city's outstanding Volvo Ocean Race debut last year by hosting the race in each of the next two editions.

The Portuguese capital staged a groundbreaking stopover in 2011-12 and will be back on the route for the 12th edition in 2014-15 and again for the 13th in 2017-18, Volvo Ocean Race COO Tom Touber announced on 1 March 2013.

The boats will reach Lisbon in 2015 after setting out from Newport, Rhode Island and crossing the Atlantic back to Europe. The sight of Lisbon's iconic 25 de Abril bridge will be familiar as well as welcome, with the city reprising its role as the Transatlantic Destination from the 2011-12 Race, when the boats arrived from Miami.

"What Lisbon achieved in the last Race was remarkable when you think that the city was making its debut," said Race COO Touber, who made the announcement at the Torreão Nascente in Portugal's historic capital.

"Lisbon is a great port city and the people came out in their thousands to welcome the sailors as their own. The Race Village was a hive of activity, with everyone coming together to give the stopover a distinct Portuguese feel. It was a truly great success and we can't wait to come back."

Mayor of Lisbon, António Costa, added, “Welcoming the Volvo Ocean Race to Lisbon for its next editions will again represent a great opportunity to promote the culture and heritage of Lisbon on a global scale.

"This will be an important landmark for the City as a privileged stage for great events. In addition, the event will also give us the opportunity to promote regular sport among our population, in this case directly related to sailing, a sport with great tradition in the country and one of the few in which we have a rich background in terms Olympic athletes.

"It is in the best interest of the city of Lisbon to create the best conditions possible in order to continue hosting the Volvo Ocean Race in Lisbon.”

Lisbon is the eighth Host Port to be announced for the 2014-15 Race, which already has three confirmed and publicly announced teams with more than 18 months to go before the start.

Source: Volvo Ocean Race