The 2001–02 Volvo Ocean Race was the eighth edition of the around-the-world sailing event

Volvo Ocean Race The Ocean Race is a yacht race around the world, held every three or four years since 1973. Originally named the Whitbread Round the World Race after its initiating sponsor, British brewing company Whitbread, in 2001 it became the Volvo Ocean Rac ...

, and the first under the name Volvo Ocean Race. For the 2001–02 the sponsorship of the race was taken over by

Volvo The Volvo Group ( sv, Volvokoncernen; legally Aktiebolaget Volvo, shortened to AB Volvo, stylized as VOLVO) is a Swedish multinational manufacturing corporation headquartered in Gothenburg. While its core activity is the production, distributio ...

and

Volvo Cars Volvo Cars ( sv, Volvo personvagnar, styled VOLVO in the company's logo) is a Swedish multinational manufacturer of luxury vehicles headquartered in Torslanda, Gothenburg. The company manufactures SUVs, station wagons, and sedans. The company's ...

. The race was renamed the

. Stopovers were added in Germany, France, and Sweden being the Volvo's three biggest car markets in Europe. In addition the points system had been modified significantly in an effort to keep the race competitive until the final leg. The previous "points" race having been effectively won two full legs before the final gun.

John Kostecki John Paul Kostecki (born July 7, 1964) is an American competitive sailor of Polish descent. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He started his sailing career in the San Francisco Bay, California. Events World Championships Kostecki won a n ...

, who had co-skippered with George Collins on '' Chessie Racing'' in the 1997 to 1998 Whitbread to great effect, captained his first Volvo Ocean race winner in 2002. ''

Assa Abloy Assa Abloy AB is a Swedish conglomerate whose offerings include products and services related to locks, doors, gates, and entrance automation. Related products and services include controlling access and confirming identities with keys, cards, ...

's'' new composite mold technique proved very quick, but not quite quick enough, while long time Whitbread skipper Grant Dalton's two boat syndicate suffered badly from a lack of preparation time (the Amer boats were last in the water). For Leg 3, yachts joined the iconic Australian

2001 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race The 2001 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, was the 57th annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. As in past editions of the race, it was hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales. ...

that begins on

Boxing Day Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated after Christmas Day, occurring on the second day of Christmastide (26 December). Though it originated as a holiday to give gifts to the poor, today Boxing Day is primarily known as a shopping holiday. It ...

(the day after

Christmas Day Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, ...

Participants

Lisa and Neal McDonald, skippers of rival boats, are husband and wife.

Route

Leg Results

Overall Results

References

External links

National Geographic's Volvo Ocean Race
- National Geographic {{DEFAULTSORT:2001-02 Volvo Ocean Race The Ocean Race Volvo Ocean Race, 2001-02 Volvo Ocean Race, 2001-02 2002 in New Zealand sport