Big show sails into capital

Abu Dhabi:  A top Volvo Ocean Race official has said the event which hits the waters of the Middle East for the first time in 2012 in Abu Dhabi will offer sailing fans something different from the Louis Vuitton Trophy that takes place in Dubai later this year.

"It's very different," said Volvo Ocean Race CEO Knut Frostad. "The Louis Vuitton is part of the America's Cup circuit. The two big sailing events in the world are the Volvo Ocean Race and the America's Cup. They are very different. They are not really competing. The Volvo Ocean Race is an offshore race around the world where you race from one city to another. America's Cup is an event that happens on a very small race course in just one hour and it's finished.

"Our race is a lot more about adventure and drama. It's complementary. It's the same in motorsport where you have Formula One, you have World Rally. You have different forms and shapes," he added.

Frostad also promised that his team are looking at building "more than just a stopover" when the race comes to Abu Dhabi. "One of the big things we work with when we go to a new country is to build a heritage with the event. We try to build the interest of the sport locally. We have school programmes, education programmes, children sailing programmes and a lot of different programmes related to the event," he said.