July 24, 2017

All the boats taking part in the next edition of the world’s most prestigious offshore sailing race will feature Interlux® and Awlgrip® products supplied by AkzoNobel.

The company, which markets Interlux as International® outside of North America, is the official Boatyard supplier for the 2017-18 edition of the race. The event includes a stopover in Newport, RI, in May 2018.

As well as creating a striking design for its own entry, the company developed unique custom colors for every team in the race, which will provide a global showcase for its coatings and color expertise. Once the event gets underway later this year, AkzoNobel will also supply all the coatings required for repairs and maintenance at each of the 12 stopovers.

“The Volvo Ocean Race is the ultimate test of performance, and given our long association with boating, it’s the perfect showcase for our market-leading products,” said John Griffin, Regional Business Director for AkzoNobel Specialty Coatings. “We’re excited to be involved in this premier event and have every confidence that our coatings will deliver the high performance expected by these world class sailors,” he added.

In addition to the Boatyard partnership, AkzoNobel and Interlux also committed to helping young people all over the world learn more about sailing by becoming the official Volvo Ocean Race Youth Academy partner for the forthcoming event.

In the US, Interlux will be the main supporter and sponsor of the Rhode Island Youth Academy, which aims to encourage more children to experience and enjoy sailing and appreciate the value of winning together. As well as staging a series of races in Optimist dinghies for more experienced young sailors, various workshops, training sessions and other activities will be provided. This will include offering educational sessions focused on discussing the importance of tackling the problem of ocean pollution.

AkzoNobel’s Interlux brand is the world leader in high performance yacht coatings, supplying a broad product range, including above and below the waterline yacht coatings and paints. The business has been beautifying and improving the performance of all types of boats for more than 160 years.

The Volvo Ocean Race starts in Alicante, Spain, on October 22.