The 2001–02 Volvo Ocean Race was the eighth edition of the around-the-world sailing event Volvo Ocean Race, and the first under the name Volvo Ocean Race. For the 2001–02 the sponsorship of the race was taken over by Volvo and Volvo Cars. The race was renamed the Volvo Ocean Race. 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, 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'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 that begins on Boxing Day (the day after Christmas Day).

Participants BoatNationDesignerSkipper Amer Sports One Mani FrersJobson, Gary. "Fighting Finish: The Volvo Ocean Race, Round the World 2001-2002." Nomad Press, 2002. Amer Sports Too Farr Yacht Design Assa Abloy Farr Yacht Design Djuice Dragons Laurie Davidson Illbruck Challenge Farr Yacht Design Team News Corp Farr Yacht Design Team SEB Farr Yacht Design Team Tyco Farr Yacht Design Lisa and Neal McDonald, skippers of rival boats, are husband and wife.

Route EventStart dateFinish dateStartFinishDistance (nmi)Winner Leg 1 23 September 2001 23 October 2001 Southampton Cape Town 7,350 Illbruck Challenge Leg 2 11 November 2001 4 December 2001 Cape Town Sydney 6,550 Illbruck Challenge Leg 3 26 December 2001 3 January 2002 Sydney Auckland 2,050 Assa Abloy Leg 4 27 January 2002 19 February 2002 Auckland Rio de Janeiro 6,700 Illbruck Challenge Leg 5 22 March 2002 27 March 2002 Rio de Janeiro Miami 4,450 Assa Abloy Leg 6 14 April 2002 17 April 2002 Miami Baltimore 875 Team News Corp Leg 7 28 April 2002 11 May 2002 Annapolis La Rochelle 3,400 Illbruck Challenge Leg 8 25 May 2002 31 May 2002 La Rochelle Gothenburg 1,075 Assa Abloy Leg 9 8 June 2002 9 June 2002 Gothenburg Kiel 250 Djuice Dragons

Leg Results # Boat Leg 1 Leg 2 Leg 3 Leg 4 Leg 5 Leg 6 Leg 7 Leg 8 Leg 9 Total 1 Illbruck Challenge 885875857 61 2 Assa Abloy 438586786 55 3 Amer Sports One 747437444 44 4 Team Tyco 51 DNF6663672 42 5 Team News Corp 664348361 41 6 Djuice Dragons 253722228 33 7 Team SEB 371 DNF1 DNF54533 32 8 Amer Sports Too 1222111 DNF15 16

Overall Results

Pos Sail Number Yacht Country Yacht Type LOA(Metres) Skipper Points 1 GER 4014 Illbruck Challenge Germany Farr Volvo Ocean 60 19.40 John Kostecki 61 2 SWE 1645 Assa Abloy Sweden Farr Volvo Ocean 60 19.40 Roy Heiner Neal McDonald 55 3 EUR 1 Amer Sports One Italy Frers Volvo Ocean 60 19.40 Grant Dalton 44 4 BER 2001 Team Tyco Bermuda Farr Volvo Ocean 60 19.40 Kevin Shoebridge 42 5 AUS 9011 Team News Corp Australia Farr Volvo Ocean 60 19.40 Jez Fanstone 41 6 NOR 2 Djuice Dragons Norway Davidson Volvo Ocean 60 19.40 Knut Frostad 33 7 SWE 20001 Team SEB Sweden Farr Volvo Ocean 60 19.40 Gunnar Krantz 32 8 EUR 2 Amer Sports Too Italy Farr Volvo Ocean 60 19.40 Lisa McDonald 16 References:

References

External links National Geographic's Volvo Ocean Race - National Geographic