In October 2017, the Volvo Ocean Race fleet set off from Alicante, Spain, on a race around the world. It will visit 12 cities, touch six continents – and for the first time in its history, the race will stop in Cardiff, from 27 May to 10 June 2018.

The Volvo Ocean Race fleet is made up of 7 teams racing One Design Volvo Ocean 65 yachts. They are 22m long with a 4.7m draft. The fleet will arrive in Cardiff after a transatlantic leg from Newport, Rhode Island and will be lifted out for a full overhaul at the Race Village. They are due on the 28th May and will be back in the water for the in-port race on the 8th June. This will take place in the Bristol Channel off Cardiff and Penarth and will be a fantastic spectacle with approximately 60 support RIBs in attendance plus the spectator fleet. The Race Village will be located on the Cardiff Bay Barrage and will stretch across to Queen Alexandra Dock, where the yachts will be lifted.

The race will continue from Cardiff with Leg 10 of the event taking the fleet to Gothenburg, Sweden. The start is scheduled for Sunday 10th June, with the start line visible from the Barrage.