Dongfeng Race Team is back in the Volvo Ocean Race, Charles Caudrelier returns as Skipper

Dongfeng Race Team will be one of the contenders in the 2017-18 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race it was announced today. With the 42-year-old Frenchman Charles Caudrelier once again at the wheel and with Bruno Dubois as Team Director, the Chinese-flagged team will be 100% backed by the Dongfeng Motor Corporation based in Wuhan in China's Hubei province.

© Bu Duomen / Dongfeng Race Team / Volvo Ocean Race

VOR / Rule change gives sailors chance to provide raw social media updates from the oceans

In the second of 10 announcements over 10 days, Volvo Ocean Race has announced that sailors will be able to send social media updates direct from the oceans for the first time in 2017-18, following a rule change and technical development that opens up a race that has always prevented onboard internet access.

Credit: Matt Knighton / Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing / Volvo Ocean Race

Volvo Ocean Race / Volvo Ocean Race begins unique refit process in Lisbon

A unique refit process is underway in Lisbon, with the first of the fleet of seven one-design Volvo Ocean 65s going in for a complete overhaul ahead of the next edition of the Volvo Ocean Race.

Crédit : A Infante 

The start of the next race is still over a year away – but at the state-of-the-art Boatyard facility in Lisbon, Portugal's capital, the boatbuilding team is already working against the clock.