Alicante, Spain: The new season for the Volvo Ocean Race has begun, and there is a bigger Asian involvement this time.

It was once a European event but the Volvo Ocean Race realised that it had to also look east. So the region was actively courted for the new season.

This year, there is a bigger Asian involvement.

As the race traces its 66,000-kilometre journey from Spain to Asia as part of its global route, there will be three stop-overs in Asia - India, China and Singapore.

And, there is an Asian entry called the "Green Dragon".

Guo Chuan, 43, is the first Asian crewman taking part in the event.

"Right now, I know a lot of Chinese media reporting for this race, so I hope our team will have a good show and a good performance," he said.

Ian Walker, skipper of Green Dragon, said: "We have got a very international team and the decision was made to build the boat in China, and they did a fantastic job in Zhuhai. We made a lot of friends out there."

He added that "we do feel that China has got a very strong affiliation with the boat."

Sailing as a whole is getting bigger in Asia and Singapore wants to be part of the action.

Arthur Tay, organiser of One15 Singapore Ocean Race, said:
"Eventually when the sailing community and the lifestyle in Singapore get to a certain level in years to come, I am sure there is no reason why we should not support or sponsor one of these Volvo Ocean Race Extreme 70, at least part of it."

So it seems Asia will now no longer be unfamiliar territory for the international sailing fraternity as more from the region take to the seas.

- CNA/ir