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| Volvo Race yachts sail into Kochi |
| BS Reporter / Chennai/ Kochi Dec 04, 2008, 00:06 IST |
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The 10-day long finale to celebrate the finishing of the second leg of Volvo Ocean Race 08-09, which for the first time has reached the Indian sub-continent, began here on Wednesday.
All the seven yachts except, Team Russia, have berthed at the port. Team Russia, which is reported to be missing their route in the Doldrum in Indian Ocean, is expected to arrive tonight. The yacht is still 300 nautical miles away from the port, according to information available.
Meanwhile, Erricsson-3, Erricsson-4, Telephoncia Black, Puma, Delta Loyd and Green Dragon have been dry docked for various repairs.
As part of the celebrations, the race village, on the Willington Island near Taj Malabar hotel, has been opened for the public. The biggest attraction here is the Volvo Pavilion itself. A miniature of the sea with small remote controlled yachts and the Isro Pavilion that provides details of the Chandrayaan expedition too are drawing crowds.
The second leg of the race, which started from Cape Town in South Africa last month ends at Kochi. The race started from Alicante in Spain and the first leg ended at Cape Town. The Kochi stopover ends on December 12 and the yachts would proceed for the third leg towards China on December 13.
For the port trust and the tourism department this is the culmination of almost a year-long preparation. The port and the department had spent Rs 60 crore for constructing the race terminal and for providing various amenities on the island.
Kochi, of late, has become an important destination for adventurous yachts. Almost 100 such yachts visit the port city on a yearly basis. Besides, luxury vessels like Queen Elizabeth 11 have visited the city Kochi several time. On an average 30 vessels berth at Kochi during November to February every year.
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