New Spanish team to take part in next three Volvo races

A new Spanish team, Ayre Challenge, said on Monday it will take part in the next three editions of the Volvo Race around the world, the world's most gruelling offshore yacht race.

Participants in the 2008 Volvo Race. A new Spanish team, Ayre Challenge, said on Monday it will take part in the next three editions of the Volvo Race around the world, the world's most gruelling offshore yacht race.

A Brazilian, Italian and French team have already confirmed their intention to take part in the next edition of the race in 2011-12, making Ayre Challenge the fourth team to announce it will take part.

The port of Alicante in eastern Spain will be the starting point for the 11th Volvo race as well as during its next two editions slated for 2014 and 2017.

Ayre Challenge, led by Spanish sailor Pedro Perollo and linked to the Club Nautico de Denia, was originally formed with the intention of taking part in the 33rd America's Cup but it decided to take part in the Volvo race instead because of the ongoing legal battles which have paralysed the Cup.

Organisers hope a dozen competitors will take part in the Volvo race, compared to eight in the 2008-09 edition which was won by Sweden's Ericsson team. The route for the race should be announced in March 2010.