From our perch overlooking the Alicante harbor, we witnessed one of the most exciting sailing events in the world: the start of the Volvo Ocean Race. With seven finely-tuned sailing yachts from around the globe, the race is a spectacle that was well worth pushing up our own Spanish start date to take it all in. It’s celebrated with 24/7 parties at the harbor, close-up access to the crews and boats, a chance to sail the harbor – although not on the real rigs – and crazy, late night music concerts. Yep, I can now attest that sound travels really well at 2am when the bands are still blasting a hip hop drum beat from across the bay.
Navigating through a crush of onlookers sharing the watery start, the Volvo race takes 7 crews around the world to travel 38,739 nautical miles, stopping at 11 ports over 9 months. Little did we know that after a week of sea trials and sponsored joyrides, the start of the race could be seen best from our own balcony. Another 50,000 people witnessed it from the harbor walkway.
With such a lucky view, it was an opportunity to host our own first Spanish fiesta with platters of end-of-season tomatoes, Galician cheeses, olives, marcona almonds, some precious Iberico de Bellota jamón, and a wonderful classic tortilla espanola shared by our new friends, Alicia and Jonathan North. All backed up by local cervezas and monastrell wine.
George will be witnessing the rest of the race from the safety of his iPad harbor, but it was a grand way to send some real risk-takers on their way and wish them Buen Viaje. While we hope they all have a safe journey, secretly we’re rooting for the first all-female team from SCA – go girls!
