Volvo Ocean Race events begin tonight

HED Real Estate S.L. — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 08:23:00 GMT

ALICANTE is gearing up for the start of the prestigious Volvo Ocean Race yachting event on October 11.

The programme of events began this week with the official launch of the two Telefónica yachts – Azul and Negro – at the port on Tuesday.

King Juan Carlos’s daughters, Infantas Elena and Cristina, visited the port to christen the vessels with the traditional smashing of the champagne bottle. On this occasion the bottle came in the form of non-alcoholic beer, a bottle of which was smashed on each yacht.

The competing teams are finishing the final details of their pavilions, which have been put up opposite the Melia Alicante hotel.

Following its opening tonight (Friday), organisers are expected a million people will visit the Volvo Ocean Race ‘village’ where approximately 40 different events will take place daily.

A replica of the Nao Victoria, used by Juan Sebastián Elcano on the first around-the-world voyage in the 16th century will be moored near the village.

Hotels in Alicante city are practically fully booked for the sail-off day.

FIVE THOUSAND BOATS

More than 5,000 boats are expected to be moored and sailing around the port area on October 11 to see the fleet off on their around-the-world race.

To ensure everything goes smoothly, more than 300 volunteers will be assisting visitors and team members from today until October 11.

Security is another major concern. From today, 1,500 National Police officers, 400 Guardia Civil and 200 regional police will add to the entire local police force in Alicante to guarantee nothing gets out of control.
Meanwhile, it was revealed that Alicante is likely to be the start of the prestigious race again in 2011. Local and regional authorities believe an official announcement will be made by King Juan Carlos or Prince Felipe when they visit the city.

AROUND THE WORLD

The Volvo Ocean race 2008-09 will conclude in St Petersburg, Russia, in June 2009. The teams will have sailed more than 37,000 nautical miles of the world’s most treacherous seas via Cape Town, Kochi, Singapore, Qingdao, around Cape Horn to Rio de Janeiro, Boston, Galway, Goteborg and Stockholm.

Each of the seven entries has a sailing team of 11 professional crewmen. The race requires utmost skill, physical endurance and competitive spirit as they race day and night for more than 30 days at a time on some of the legs.

Source Costa Blanca News

Worried there is not enough to do?

HED Real Estate S.L. — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:45:00 GMT

So you have seen that the climate in this part of Spain gives you plenty of options to lay on the beach, play some golf or go out and do something. I recogn that you spent around 75 percent of time outside here, its just to nice outside to be in! Ofcourse there are plenty of restaurants, bars and shops around. This region has some great commercial centres with all the international shops yu can imagine!! Herewith some other activities around the costa blanca to enjoy!

Water sports

Most holidays in Costa Blanca revolve around the coast, and with so many spectacular sandy beaches, the facilities for water sports are excellent. Along with jet-skiing, water-skiing, parascending, surfing and snorkelling, there are now many places to scuba-diving along the Costa Blanca.

Wind surfing
Plenty of wind surfing schools can be found on Spain holidays, especially along the Costa Blanca, with the strong winds and warm waters creating ideal conditions for this increasingly popular sport. Lessons can be taken on the beach, with tuition for every level.

Sailing
Take a sail boat cruise and enjoy the blue waters of the Mediterranean on one of the many charters and excursions available on the Costa Blanca. Whether you plan to skipper yourself or just relax whilst sunbathing, swimming and admiring the spectacular coastline, a boat trip is a great way to see this beautiful part of Spain.

Golf
With over 15 courses along the Costa Blanca, the region attracts many golfers all year round, and the short flights from the UK make weekend golf trips all the more popular. The climate and stunning scenery make golfing a very popular activity, with the area home to some expertly-designed top-quality courses.

Hiking
The mountainous Costa Blanca is ideal for both leisurely walking and challenging hiking holidays, especially during the cooler spring and autumn months. Explore the scenic peaks of the sierras, and discover the natural charm and beauty of the area inland, from the fertile green valleys, full of orange and almond groves, to unspoilt secluded villages.

Theme parks
Families will love trying out all the entertainment centres along the Costa Brava, with the popular resort of Benidorm home to such theme parks and water parks as Aqualandia, Mundomar Marine Park and Terra Mitica, the largest theme park in Spain, as well as various safari parks.

Festivals and fiestas

The Costa Blanca, like most of Spain, celebrates numerous festivals and fiestas throughout the year, with each area and town having its own celebrations, mainly in the form of feasts and processions. Visiting during festival time is exciting and memorable, with most fiestas being colourful and vibrant events.

So you see even if you are getting a bit bored laying around the pool or going to the beautifull beaches there are enough places to visit and do something while you are on holiday or living here.

HED Real Estate your professional real estate partner : activities

Volvo Ocean Race events begin tonight

Worried there is not enough to do?