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CNN Live At Daybreak

Every Four Years World Class Competition Called Volvo Ocean Race Held

Aired April 26, 2002 - 06:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Now to an around the world voyage, something most of us can only dream about. Every four years a world class competition called the Volvo Ocean Race is held.

Our Elaine Quijano joins us live from the Baltimore Harbor with more on this very intense race -- good morning.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Carol.

We are here at Baltimore's Inner Harbor and I am on board Amer Sports One. Now, these are very fast boats, but to give you an idea, they're not exactly the smallest boats. These boats are 64 feet long with masts some 85 feet high. You can imagine what that's like on the open ocean. And they weigh something like 30,000 pounds.

Now, later this afternoon, these boats and their crews will head off to Annapolis for what is another stop in their voyage, around the world trip in a race that is unlike any other.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

QUIJANO (voice-over): Been called the grand prix of boat racing. The Volvo Ocean Race consists of eight crews traveling some 32,000 nautical miles over nine months.

The race began last September in Southampton, England. The teams compete in nine legs. Their stops include Sydney, Australia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and now Baltimore. Along the way, the view is breathtaking, but the conditions extreme.

ANDY HINDLEY: We've had huge icebergs and incredible blizzards where we've had so much snow on deck, we could have a snowball fight.

QUIJANO: To help keep the crew safe and on course, the teams rely heavily on technology. Satellites on each boat bring in weather data and help beam back critical information to those on land.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Every 10 minutes we package up a certain amount of data on their position, their speed, the wind speed, the wind direction and we send that back to our race H.Q.

QUIJANO: Despite the help, the race is still a grueling battle against the elements, the clock and sometimes each other. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's like a mix of being a father, being a managing director, being a therapist. But in the end, the net outcome is very positive. We are very privileged.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

QUIJANO: And a live look now at Baltimore's Inner Harbor. The boats lined up, you can see, ready to go. They will head out to Annapolis this afternoon before starting the next leg of the race on Sunday.

Now, the entire event wraps up June 9 in Germany.

We're live in Baltimore. I'm Elaine Quijano. Now back to you.

COSTELLO: You're a lucky, lucky woman, Elaine. It looks beautiful there. Thank you.

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