For the last nine months we’ve been sailing-mad here at Sweaty Betty PR, following the CAMPER and Emirates Team New Zealand crew as they navigated their way through the world’s waters in the Volvo Ocean Race 2011/12.

CAMPER was one of six yachts competing in the race, which started in November last year and ended in Galway, Ireland, last weekend.

CAMPER finished second overall in the inshore series after being edged out by the Puma team in the final In-Port race in Ireland. Simply by completing the Galway in-port race, CAMPER secured the point necessary to confirm second place in the overall race behind Groupama and bagged a podium finish with the whole of Mallorca celebrating their spectacular finale!

The end of the Volvo Ocean Race is also the end of an amazing year at Camper headquarters; this project has seen the Spanish family-owned shoe company fully immerse itself in the sailing world, creating a range of sailing shoes which were worn by the crew on deck, tasking designer Shigeru Ban with the job of building a recyclable ‘pavilion’ which travelled the world with the race, and stage celebrations in ten countries as the Volvo Ocean Race came to rest in between legs. It also saw Camper and the VOR contingent descend on Auckland for a week during the a stopover this March – and our lovely Irene flew over to manage media guests and take a ride on the famous yacht!

Sailing really is in Camper’s soul and the Volvo Ocean Race has been the company’s biggest global project to date.

Skipper Chris Nicholson (an Aussie!) rounded off the final stretch with a great quote, ““A second overall and a second in the In-Port Series is a very good feeling. This is the easiest race to lose, so to be runners up makes us very happy and proud of our team who have shown great character the whole way round. It has been a tough, well-fought campaign and it has been an honour to share it with such a great group of guys. This is a great way to finish it off.”

Well done to Camper! Next up is the brand’s sponsorship of the America’s Cup – our sailing obsession continues!

Amy & Irene x