ALICANTE, Spain // The colour-splashed vessels in the Volvo Ocean Race were hardly the lone key component to have a design makeover in the three years since the last event was staged.
That overhaul seems almost minor by comparison.
The nine-month around-the-world event begins today off the Spanish coastline, with the seven boats expected to race for an hour around buoys situated near the Alicante harbour.
Beyond that, the in-port races at the nine seaside destinations have been downgraded to little more than parade laps or, in the case of Saturday’s event, a final dress rehearsal for the first open-water stage, which begins on October 11 with a three-week trek to Cape Town, South Africa.
“We wanted the focus on the around-the-world race,” said Knut Frostad, the race chief executive.
It is no small tweak. Previously, in-port races accounted for 20 per cent of the overall points total, which always seemed at odds with the over-arching mantra of the event as sailing’s ultimate endurance test.
The in-port races are the equivalent of sprints around traffic cones, while the open-sea legs are survivalist marathons.
After the revision, the in-port races will matter only as a tiebreaker if teams are deadlocked when pulling into the final port, in Sweden, next summer.
Consequently, though sponsors will be on hand and fans will watch from the shoreline, teams quickly shifted their racing priorities elsewhere.
“To be honest, I haven’t put a lot into it at this stage,” said Charlie Enright, the skipper of the Alvimedica team, a US/Turkish boat. “It doesn’t count, but everybody sees it. It could be a place for us to shine later in the race.”
Ian Walker, skipper of the Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s Azzam, said the team did not practise any short-course manoeuvres until Thursday’s training session.
“It’s a bit funny that we have these in-port races coming up, and there are no points for them,” Walker said. “It is basically entertainment value. That’s why they have taken away the points.
“But even though there are no points, they are still important. The sponsors are here, you want to put on a good show, it’s on TV. Plus, it’s good for morale.”
They have become akin to a Wednesday pro-am at a tour golf tournament.
Chat up the sponsors, show off your professionalism, crack a few jokes and get ready for the real thing to come.
Sailors may be the most superstitious of all sportsmen, and some here believe that winning the opening in-port race could represent the kiss of death.
Three years ago, Walker’s crew won the in-port opener in Alicante and were feeling pretty good about themselves as they set sail on the first leg a few days later. Six hours into a nine-month race, the mast broke.
So, is the first in-port truly of import? Walker, whose team struggled to make up lost ground and eventually finished fifth in the 2011/12 race, raised his hand.
“I can vouch for that,” he said to laughter.
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Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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Price, base / as tested Dh222,500 / Dh296,870
Engine 2.0L, flat four-cylinder
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Fuel economy, combined 6.9L / 100km
The Orwell Prize for Political Writing
Twelve books were longlisted for The Orwell Prize for Political Writing. The non-fiction works cover various themes from education, gender bias, and the environment to surveillance and political power. Some of the books that made it to the non-fiction longlist include:
- Appeasing Hitler: Chamberlain, Churchill and the Road to War by Tim Bouverie
- Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me by Kate Clanchy
- Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez
- Follow Me, Akhi: The Online World of British Muslims by Hussein Kesvani
- Guest House for Young Widows: Among the Women of ISIS by Azadeh Moaveni
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
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'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
