M32 fleet to showcase high-octane action at Volvo Ocean Race start 

Alicante, Spain (October 12, 2017) – A fleet of ten high-performance M32 catamarans will wow crowds in Alicante, Spain, at the start of the Volvo Ocean Race in a showcase of trademark action and excitement.

Beginning today, the Alicante Match Cup will see the crews – led by some of sailing’s biggest names and most promising talent – go head to head over four days of intense match racing in front of Alicante’s bustling Volvo Ocean Race village.

The line-up for the event includes World Match Racing Tour regulars Yann Guichard (Spindrift Racing), Sam Gilmour (Neptune Racing), Jonas Warrer (Team Warrer) and Sally Barkow (Team Magenta 32).

Dutch two-time Olympian Pieter-Jan Postma will lead Sailing Team NL while 2016 Tour de France a la Voile champions Team Lorina-Golfe du Morbihan, skippered by Quentin Delapierre, also join the fray.

The teams will be doing battle for one of two coveted places up for grabs at the opening event of the 2018 World Match Racing Tour.

Racing will take place from 10am local time each day. A round of fleet racing today will be followed by three days of knock-out stages to determine the final standings.

For many of the teams it will also be a chance to hone their skills ahead of the 2017 WMRT Match Racing World Championship, which takes place in Shenzen, China, from October 24 to 29.

Robert Magnusson, CEO of the World Match Racing Tour, said: “The Alicante Match Cup is a fantastic showcase for the World Match Racing Tour and the M32 class.

“The eyes of the sailing world are firmly fixed on Alicante at the moment, so what better place for us to show sports fans the kind of high-speed, action-packed racing we enjoy on our own circuits in these speed machines.

“It will be exciting for spectators to watch these top teams fight it out for a place at the 2018 World Match Racing Tour opener.”

Follow the action at wmrt.com.