The organisation behind The Ocean Race has tempered expectations while confirming its readiness to maintain its connection with Alicante beyond January 2027, the date scheduled for the final opening leg of the competition currently committed by contract.
Discussions are ongoing as regional authorities look to secure a prominent future role for Alicante in the race amidst alternative options. At the same time, the administration has emphasised that work continues on preparing for the upcoming edition.
While discussions progress, organisers are focused on ensuring that the upcoming departure next month is the best to date. The fleet is set to depart from Alicante on 17th January, marking the sixth consecutive edition that the race has started from the city since the partnership began in 2008.
The departure will be preceded by ten days of public activities at the Ocean Live Park in Alicante, forming the centrepiece of the public engagement ahead of the round-the-world adventure. From Alicante, the fleet will undertake a journey through some of the most demanding waters on the planet.
Crews will face the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Southern oceans, with stops including Auckland, Itajaí, St. Pete-Clearwater, Cascais, and a potential new stop in the Mediterranean before a final sprint through the Red Sea to Amaala.
The ambition of regional institutions is for the relationship not to be limited to a single fixture, but to translate into a continuous presence of The Ocean Race brand in Alicante, accompanied by sporting events, training and community initiatives to be defined in the coming years.