Eight Ports of Call on Seven Continents

The Whitbread Round the World Race has been yacht racing’s ultimate challenge since 1973, and it is one of the most widely seen sporting events in the world. Media material generated by English sponsor Whitbread Breweries tosses about such viewership numbers as 326 million people in 175 countries on seven continents over 32 months.

The 1997 Whitbread will feature eight ports of call linked by nine passages: 7,350 nautical miles from Southampton, England, to Cape Town, South Africa; 4,600 nautical miles from Cape Town to Fremantle, Australia; 2,250 nautical miles from Fremantle to Sydney, Australia; 1,270 nautical miles from Sydney to Auckland, New Zealand; 6,670 nautical miles from Auckland to Sao Sebastiao, Brazil; 4,750 nautical miles from Sao Sebastiao to Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; 870 nautical miles from Fort Lauderdale to Baltimore; 3,390 miles from Annapolis, Md., to La Rochelle, France, and 450 miles from La Rochelle back to Southampton.

An estimated 20 competitors will ante up a total of at least $125 million, including the cost of their mono-hull yachts called Whitbread 60s, to complete the course. The winner, expected to cross the finish line about eight months after the starting cannon is fired, will receive a trophy.

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The Whitbread Round the World Race 1997-98

Leg 1: 7,350 nautical miles

Leg 2: 4,600 nautical miles

Leg 3: 2,250 nautical miles

Leg 4: 1,270 nautical miles

Leg 5: 6,670 nautical miles

Leg 6: 4,750 nautical miles

Leg 7: 870 nautical miles

Leg 8: 3,390 nautical miles

Leg 9: 450 nautical miles

Total distance: 31,600 nautical miles