The campaign is also supported by a raft of additional sponsors and is backed by the Valencian government and the Spanish Sailing Federation.

The campaign will again be spearheaded by Pedro CAMPOS (ESP) as CEO, while Bouwe BEKKING (NED), skipper of the Spanish entry movistar in the previous race, returns as Sports and Technical Director. Spanish Olympians, Iker MARTINEZ and Fernando ECHAVARRI are among the principal members of the sailing team, which will be based in the start port of Alicante.

Both boats, designed under an exclusive deal with Farr Yacht Design, will be differentiated by hull colour and named Telefónica Blue and Telefónica Black.

Announcing the details of the campaign, CAMPOS said he expected this edition of the Volvo Ocean Race to be particularly tough. “I am pretty sure this Volvo Ocean Race is going to be the fiercest one in the history of the race,” he said.

“The second generation Volvo Open 70s and the new course represent a big challenge. We are going to have some new talent onboard, coming from the Olympic arena and the big boat circuit in Spain. This new bunch of guys, plus the experienced ones we have from the last race are going to develop into a really compact group,” he added.

Volvo Ocean Race - www.volvoceanrace.org