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Nazvi Careem

Hong Kong has lost out to neighbour Shenzhen in the bid to host the only Asian leg of the 2021-22 Ocean Race.
Race organisers announced early on Wednesday morning that the world’s most prestigious round-the-world boat race will return to China for the next edition, but it is Shenzhen, and not Hong Kong, that will host the fleet for one of the legs.
“This is the fifth consecutive edition of the race where we have brought a stopover to China,” said Johan Salén, the Ocean Race managing director.
“In 2018, the Chinese-flagged Dongfeng Race Team won the race, in the closest finish in history, and the stop in China was important in increasing the local fanbase for both the team and the event.”

️Five stops in China in last five editions
️A lasting Chinese legacy after @DongfengRacing win
️At least one Chinese entry expected for next edition @TheOceanRace will visit in Shenzhen, China in 2021-22 ️https://t.co/ybAvdnGwYF pic.twitter.com/8S61M4eIEY
— The Ocean Race (@theoceanrace) December 17, 2019

Hong Kong hosted the fleet after leg four of the 2017-18 Ocean Race, which was won in dramatic fashion by Hong Kong boat Sun Hung Kai Scallywag.
The fleet then made a brief stop in Guangzhou for leg five before returning to Hong Kong for the start of leg six to Auckland.

The Hong Kong government and local sailing officials were keen to be part of the next edition and were involved in long negotiations with race organisers.
However, organisers eventually settled on Shenzhen. It is not known if the anti-government protests that have plagued Hong Kong since June influenced the decision to overlook Hong Kong in favour of Shenzhen.
Hong Kong officials have remained silent over the past month when asked about the Ocean Race.
China-owned boat Dongfeng became the first mainland entry to win overall honours, beating Spain’s Mapfre 73 points to 70. Team Brunel were third ahead of AkzoNobel, Vestas 11th Hour Racing, Turn the Tide on Plastic and Scallywag.

Organisers are again expecting at least one Chinese entry for the race.
Other host cities confirmed for 2021-22 are Alicante (Spain), Aarhus (Denmark), The Hague (Netherlands), Cabo Verde, Genoa (Italy), Itajai (Brazil), Cape Town (South Africa) and Auckland (New Zealand).
The 2021-22 edition of The Ocean Race will feature two classes of boats – the innovative, foiling Imoca 60 class, along with the one-design VO65 boats that produced the close and compelling competition of the last race.

“Opening the race to the Imoca 60 fleet as well as the VO65 means we can have the best of both worlds,” Salén said. “In the last edition, the VO65s proved to be fast and reliable, and promoted extremely close racing.
“With the Imoca 60, we bring once again innovation and yacht design as well as an engineering and boatbuilding element to the race, and the Imoca boats will be foiling, which puts them at the cutting edge of the sport.”
The Ocean Race is expected to start from its home port in Alicante in the fourth quarter of 2021 and finish in Genoa in June of 2022.
‘Scallywags never give up!’ – Hong Kong boat to continue in Volvo Ocean Race in honour of lost sailor John Fisher
In the press release announcing Shenzhen as a host city, Li Xi, secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Committee, was quoted as saying: “In recent years, China has recognised the tremendous potential of the Great Bay area, prioritising its development, centred by Shenzhen, in the new policies and using its oceanic geography to full advantage.
“It also has been highlighted repeatedly that national resources of all phases would be directed to the Great Bay, in order to build it as a world class economic powerhouse.”


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Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18

The Ocean Race: Hong Kong lose out as organisers prefer Shenzhen for the only Asian stop of the 2021-22 event

The Ocean Race will come to Shenzhen for the first time when the southern Chinese city hosts a leg of the 2021-22 edition. Photo: The Ocean Race

Scallywag crews celebration winning of the Leg 4 in the Volvo Ocean Race. Photo: Volvo Ocean Race

Leg 11, from Gothenburg to The Hague, arrivals. Dongfeng Race Team wins Leg 11 to take overall victory in Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18. 24 June, 2018.

Volvo Ocean Race team yachts are seen docked at the race village at Kai Tak Runway Park in Hong Kong on January 20, 2018. A collision between a mainland Chinese fishing boat and the US-Danish team Vestas 11th Hour Racing during the fourth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race left one man dead, police said on January 20, overshadowing a historic victory for the Hong Kong team as the city hosted the race for the first time. / AFP PHOTO / VIVEK PRAKASH

Dongfeng becomes first Chinese boat to win Volvo Ocean Race; David Witt, of Hong Kong’s Scallywag, just happy to finish

Dongfeng Race Team heading towards the finish line in The Hague. Photo: VOR

route

Emotional welcome for Scallywag: Hong Kong boat arrives in Itajai for leg eight of Volvo Ocean Race

Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag arrives in Itajai, Brazil. Photos: VOR

Leg 7 from Auckland to Itajai. Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag arrives in Itajai. 19 April, 2018.

Sport

Hong Kong


Southern Chinese city is one of nine confirmed venues for the next edition of the world’s most famous round-the-world race
Hong Kong was keen to host a leg for the second time after a successful debut in 2017-18



Southern Chinese city is one of nine confirmed venues for the next edition of the world’s most famous round-the-world race.


Shenzhen

Greater Bay Area

Hong Kong protests

The Ocean Race: Hong Kong lose out as organisers prefer Shenzhen for the only Asian stop of the 2021-22 event

Southern Chinese city is one of nine confirmed venues for the next edition of the world’s most famous round-the-world race Hong Kong was keen to host a leg for the second time after a successful debut in 2017-18

Southern Chinese city is one of nine confirmed venues for the next edition of the world’s most famous round-the-world race

Hong Kong was keen to host a leg for the second time after a successful debut in 2017-18