Behind the Hardware: Volvo Ocean Race Assembly Period

With thirteen days on the ground, the Lisbon assembly period was not only one of the longest service stops our team will face, it is also the start of a year-long, round-the-world service project. Ahead of the race start in October, the crews put their boats through their paces, getting as much time to bond with their boat and crew members as possible. Rigorous training was in full swing with races that included the iconic Rolex Fastnet, followed quickly by Leg 0 which led the teams back to Lisbon. On arrival, the boats were handed over to the dedicated teams at The Boatyard. For those of you who may not have heard of The Boatyard, it is a shared maintenance facility 80 m by 20 m (262′ by 66′) fully stocked with all the parts, equipment, and knowledge required to service every component on the boats. Best of all The Boatyard is open to the public at each stopover, allowing visitors to see first-hand the team of specialists at work. It really is the ultimate Formula One pit stop!