VOR / Telefónica on its qualifying tour (video)

Team Telefónica left its base in Alicante this morning for Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. Skipper Iker Martínez and his crew will attempt to complete the 2000-mile qualifying passage.

credit : María Muiña/Team Telefónica

"It took nine months to build her, so everyone is really looking forward to get out there and sail to see how everything is working,” said Martínez. Since her unveiling in the Valencian boatyard, Telefónica’s new Volvo Open 70 has spent the last 20 days preparing and testing in Alicante.

Volvo Ocean Race / Telefónica unveiled

After more than 40,000 hours of work and a team of over 28 builders and 19 designers, Team Telefónica’s brand new Volvo Open 70 is on her way from Valencia to the port of Alicante, where she will be assembled before commencing offshore training sessions. 

Credit : PaulTodd/outsideimages.com

Skipper Iker Martinez was delighted. “All of us who form part of this team are very happy to finally see the boat en route to Alicante,” he said. “Now we are looking forward to sailing her and to getting everything ready and for the boat to work well as a whole.”

Volvo Ocean Race / Team Telefónica returns

Team Telefónica announces today their participation in the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12. The company will sponsor Pedro Campos’ team for the third consecutive time. The latest generation Volvo Open 70, to be called “Telefónica”, is under construction at a shipyard in Valencia, Spain.

Credit : María Muiña/Team Telefónica

Sevenstar round Britain and Ireland race / Teléfonica Azul Take 2nd Place

Volvo Open 70 Teléfonica Azul crossed the Royal Yacht Squadron Line to claim second place in the 2010 Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race. Teléfonica Azul finished the race well inside the old record. They started the race like a bat out of hell, screaming down the Solent at over 25 knots, but a rigging problem meant that they were overtaken by Groupama and they never managed to catch them.