Alicante hosts The Ocean Race summit for 2026-2027

Published on May 29, 2026 | Translated from Spanish

Alicante becomes the epicenter of ocean sailing by hosting The Ocean Race Stakeholder Conference 2026-2027. Over two days, the organization, host cities such as Auckland or New York, teams, partners, and brands like Volvo Cars and Helly Hansen gather to fine-tune the details of the upcoming competitions. The event aims to promote the city and the Valencian Community as an international destination.

Marina de Alicante at sunrise, Volvo Ocean 65 racing yachts docked in formation, crew members in Helly Hansen gear reviewing navigation screens and digital wind maps on tablets, large holographic globe showing route from Alicante to Auckland, stakeholders pointing at technical details, maritime cranes lifting a damaged keel fin for inspection, cinematic photorealistic engineering visualization, metallic hull reflections, glowing LED data overlays on sails, dramatic golden hour lighting, ultra-detailed rigging and composite materials, industrial port atmosphere with cranes and containers in background

Technology and logistics: the pillars of the new ocean era ⛵

The presentations address advances in navigation, satellite communication systems, and route optimization. New scoring systems aimed at making the races more dynamic are presented. Port logistics and real-time data management are central themes, with a focus on sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint. Teams evaluate how these innovations will impact crew performance and safety.

Meetings, coffee, and plenty of sailing: the art of planning without getting wet ☕

While sailors dream of giant waves, executives debate budgets and deadlines in air-conditioned rooms. Brands negotiate visibility on the sails, teams calculate kilograms of freeze-dried food, and host cities compete to see who has the best marina. All very serious, until someone asks if there will be enough beer at the welcome party. The logistics of leisure also matter.