For more information visit the official stopover site at www.volvooceanracesingapore.com/
KEY DATES
Leg 3 was won by Telefónica Blue at 14:51 GMT, 22 December 2008 after 9 days, 4 hours and 51 minutes of sailing, click here to read more about leg 3.
The Singapore in-port race took place on the 10th January 2009, Ericsson 4 emerged the overall winner on the day, more information about the days racing can be found on the Singapore in-port race page.
The fleet departed from Singapore at 1300hrs local time on Sunday 18 January for leg 4 to Qingdao.
ABOUT SINGAPORE
Singapore is tiny compared with its neighbours in the Southeast region, but it packs gigantic fun and excitement.
There won’t be a mad scramble to flag down a cab by Friday night’s revellers stumbling out of clubs at Clarke Quay in the wee hours of the morning. Cabbies are just around the corner ready to ferry them home.
Others who are lucky to have their flats within the Orchard area can just walk off the extra glass of martini. No bruises or missing wallets to greet you in the morning in this clean and safe haven – just perhaps a colossal hangover.
Walking around the city is commonplace to night owls. Orchard, the city’s shopping district (think Tokyo’s Ginza or London’s Oxford Street), takes on a surreal ambience of hushed din and bright lights. Several hours earlier, the area is teeming with shoppers.
But in the graveyard hours you can stroll through the shopping district without being elbowed and pushed by the madding crowd. Sitting on the steps of the gargantuan Takashimaya Shopping Centre, you snatch a peek at what’s to unfold in the next couple of hours when it is roused out of its temporary hibernation. In the meantime, you’re simply enjoying the gentle purring underneath the soles of your feet. This meditative moment – like power napping – makes you ready for the organised madness coming your way.
Regular days at Orchard are a walk in the park. It becomes a little manic when sales like the Great Singapore Sale, commence. This May-to-July shopping extravaganza has major malls at Orchard and beyond offering massive discounts on every conceivable item.
Cynics would lament that it’s not New York or London in scale, which is true to a certain degree, especially when we talk about size. Called Little Red Dot, a sobriquet worn as a badge of honour by the locals and the country’s leaders, Singapore does appear as a Little Red Dot at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula in major maps.
Indeed, the Little Red Dot has come a long way since its kampong (Malay word for village) and rickshaw days. The bucolic landscape of halcyon days has given rise to concrete and steel skyscrapers and a diverse society with various ethnicities. Chinese, Malay, Indian joined by American and European expatriates living in one community with each retaining their own identity, traditional ways and religious beliefs.
Download:Singapore Race Village highlights schedule (PDF 130kb)Singapore Race Village activities (PDF 1.2mb)Map of Singapore Race Village (PDF 229kb)In Port Race Course Information (PDF 161kb)
Estimated Yacht arrivals: 23/12/2008
In Port Race: 10/01/2009 1300hrs (Local Time)
Leg 4 Start: 18/01/2009 1300hrs (Local Time)
Download: Singapore Race Village highlights schedule (PDF 130kb) Singapore Race Village activities (PDF 1.2mb) Map of Singapore Race Village (PDF 229kb) In Port Race Course Information (PDF 161kb) For more information visit the official stopover site at www.volvooceanracesingapore.com/
EVENTS
Sunday 21st December 2008 to Wednesday 7th January 2009 1000hrs-1800hrs: The Race Village is open with ongoing programs throughout the day, located at One Degree 15 Marina, Sentosa Island 21st December – 25th December is the Estimated Yacht Arrivals Race Village, Arrivals Pontoon
Thursday 8th January 2009 – Opening day 1000hrs-2200hrs: The Race Village is open with ongoing programs throughout the day, located at One Degree 15 Marina, Sentosa Island 1100hrs: Pontoon tours hourly until 1800hrs 1900hrs: Race Village Official Opening Ceremony "A Uniquely Singaporean Welcome!" 2000hrs: Performance by Electrico
Friday 9th January 2009 – Thank Goodness Its Friday! 1000hrs-2200hrs: The Race Village is open with ongoing programs throughout the day, located at One Degree 15 Marina, Sentosa Island 1800hrs: Volvo Open 70 Model Boat Circuit, Singapore Stage 1900hrs: Race highlights 2000hrs: Performance by Jack and Rai from EIC
Saturday 10th January 2009 - UBS In Port Challenge of the Volvo Ocean Race Singapore / Ireland Day 0900hrs-2200hrs: The Race Village is open, located at One Degree 15 Marina, Sentosa Island 1000hrs: Singapore Sailing Workshops – to 1800hrs 1030hrs: In Port Race, the departure of the fleet at the Race Village Where the power and performance of the Volvo Open 70 can be seen up close 1100hrs: Sea Going Workshops presented by Singapore Sea Scouts 1130hrs: Ireland Day Showcase with musical pieces, dance ensembles, jam sessions and more. Ongoing throughout the day until 1600hrs 1200hrs: Singapore Sailing ‘Pearl Hunt’ sailing programme 1300hrs: In Port Race start 1330hrs: Sentosa Animal Encounters 1400hrs: Singapore Sailing 'Pearl Hunt' sailing program 1515hrs: Sentosa Animal Encounters 1600hrs: Singapore Sailing 'Pearl Hunt' sailing program 1900hrs: InPort Race Prize Giving Ceremony - on main stage (time approx) 2000hrs: InPort Party
Sunday 11th January 2009 – Pro-Am Race / Family Day 1000hrs-2200hrs: The Race Village is open, located at One Degree 15 Marina, Sentosa Island 1100hrs: Free flow popcorn & candy floss to 6pm 1000hrs: Singapore Sailing Workshops - to 1800 1030hrs: Departure of the Fleet for Pro Am Race 1045hrs: Arrival of Sentosa Island's Captain Palawan 1100hrs: Pirate / Sea Creature Fancy Dress parade & judging 1100hrs: Sea Going Workshops presented by Singapore Sea Scouts 1200hrs: Singapore Sailing 'Pearl Hunt' sailing program 1300hrs: Pro Am Race Start 1300hrs: Sea Going Workshops presented by Singapore Sea Scouts 1330hrs: Sentosa Animal Encounters 1400hrs: Singapore Sailing 'Pearl Hunt' sailing program 1515hrs: Sentosa Animal Encounters 1600hrs: Singapore Sailing 'Pearl Hunt' sailing program 1600hrs: Water Safety by Sentosa 1630hrs: Performance by Dikir Barat 1700hrs: Performance by Splash! The Magical Clown 1700hrs: Pro Am Race Prize Giving - Volvo Pavilion 1800hrs: Performance by Budak Pantai (Acapella) 1900hrs: Performance by: "ABBA" 2000hrs: Performance by: Shirlyn Tan & The UnXpected Band
Monday 12th January 2009 – Jazz by the Bay 1000hrs-2200hrs: The Race Village is open, located at One Degree 15 Marina, Sentosa Island 1100hrs: Pontoon tours- hourly to 1800 1800hrs: Performance by SMU Samba Masala 2000hrs: Performance by Jazz by The Bay
Tuesday 13th January 2009 – Movie Night 1000hrs-2200hrs: The Race Village is open, located at One Degree 15 Marina, Sentosa Island 1100hrs: Pontoon Tours hourly until 1800hrs 1930hrs: Movie Night: Shark Tail
Wednesday 14th January - Adopt-a-Team & Articulate School’s Day 2009 1000hrs-2200hrs: The Race Village is open, located at One Degree 15 Marina, Sentosa Island 1100hrs: Pontoon tours- hourly to 1800 1300hrs: Adopt - A - Team school program 1400hrs: Sentosa Animal Encounters 1500hrs: Crew Q&A session 1600hrs: Judging of School Inventions by Crew 2000hrs: Performance by: Michaela Therese
Thursday 15th January 2009 - Bossa Nova Marina 1000hrs-2200hrs: The Race Village is open, located at One Degree 15 Marina, Sentosa Island 1100hrs: Pontoon tours- hourly to 1800 1800hrs: Volvo Open 70 Model Boat Circuit - Singapore Stage 2000hrs: Performance by: Dawn Ho
Friday 16th January 2009 – Scout’s day 1000hrs-2200hrs: The Race Village is open, located at One Degree 15 Marina, Sentosa Island 1000hrs: Scout's Program to 1700hrs 1100hrs: Pontoon tours- hourly to 1800hrs 1330hrs: Sentosa Animal Encounters 1500hrs: Crew Q&A Session 1600hrs: Water Safety by Sentosa 1900hrs: Performance by Wicked Aura Batucada 2000hrs: Performance by Jive Talking
Saturday 17th January 2009 – Celebrating Youth 1000hrs-2200hrs: The Race Village is open, located at One Degree 15 Marina, Sentosa Island 1000hrs: Sea Going Workshops presented by Singapore Sea Scouts 1000hrs: Pontoon Tours hourly to 1800 1100hrs: Sentosa Animal Encounters 1200hrs: Singapore Sailing 'Pearl Hunt' sailing program 1300hrs: Performance by STORM 1330hrs: Sentosa Animal Encounters 1400hrs: Singapore Sailing 'Pearl Hunt' sailing program 1515hrs: Sentosa Animal Encounters 1600hrs: Singapore Sailing 'Pearl Hunt' sailing program 1800hrs: Prize Giving for Competitions and Acknowledgements 1830hrs: Showcase of Festival Highlights 1900hrs: Performance by Wicked Aura Batucada 2000hrs: Performance by Jack & Rai from EIC
Sunday 18th January 2009 – Race Start – Leg 4 to Quingdao, China 0900hrs-1800hrs: The Race Village is open, located at One Degree 15 Marina, Sentosa Island 1000hrs: Singapore Sailing Workshops - to 1800 1000hrs: Sea Going Workshops Presented by Singapore Sea Scouts - ongoing to 1200hrs 1030hrs: Blessing of the Fleet 1100hrs: Departure of Fleet 1200hrs: Singapore Sailing 'Pearl Hunt' sailing program 1400hrs: Singapore Sailing 'Pearl Hunt' sailing program 1700hrs: Singapore Sailing 'Pearl Hunt' sailing program 1800hrs: Race Village Closed
Sentosa’s western area contains the majority of the attractions found at the Imbiah Lookout which is the best way to start the Sentosa adventure. Take your pick:
The Sentosa Luge and Skyride (part go-cart and part toboggan ride)
Sky Tower for a panoramic view of Singapore 131 metres above sea level or The Merlion, Singapore’s half-lion, half-fish emblem, standing 37 metres high.
Beach lovers will enjoy sea sports or simply basking under the sun along the 3.2km stretch of beach linking Siloso, Palawan and Tanjong. Siloso is for beach volleyball and other outdoor activities such as canoeing, mountain biking or rollerblading; Palawan is for chilling out with friends; and Tanjong is for solitude or romantic rendezvous.
A new attraction will be ready next year. Skydiving enthusiasts will be able to enjoy the sport in the world’s largest vertical tunnel, iFly Singapore. The air-conditioned skydiving simulator will measure five metres in diameter, give a flying height of 17 metres and will allow up to 20 professional flyers at one time. The transparent tunnel will also offer views of South China Sea, Siloso Beach and nightly fireworks display, from Songs of the Sea.
On the eastern side are the luxury hotels and the exclusive ONE°15 Marina Club where, as Ms Chan put it, “the mood is quieter”.
Exclusive is the password at ONE°15. Only bona fide members – all 3,850 – have access to the marina and land facilities. If you own a yacht, you can park at one of the 270 berths and use the other marina facilities. If you’re not into sailing, there are land facilities that include two tennis courts, infinity pool, fully equipped gym and the Marina Sanctuary Spa. Or you can laze in the bathtub in one of four luxurious club suites to enjoy the scenery. If you’re hungry, you can eat at the Latitude Bistro that has an international buffet menu or something Chinese at the Imperial Treasure restaurant. The Bistro has a deli that can prepare a picnic basket if you’re in the mood.
Visit the ONE°15 Marina Club website at www.one15marina.com.
Getting There
Sentosa Island, which will play host to the Volvo Ocean Race at the state-of-the-at Oneº15 Marina Club is Singapore’s answer to a mini-resort vacation without leaving the country. Connected by acauseway bridge to the mainland, visitors can reach the island by car, taxi, and the Sentosa Express monorail, which links HarbourFront, Vivocity, St. James Power Station to Sentosa in less than four minutes.
The cable car from Mount Faber is another way to access the island as well as public buses. There is also the frequent orange Sentosa Bus that ferries passengers to and from Sentosa and the Harbourfront Bus Interchange. Getting around the island is easy with the Sentosa Express, beach trams and buses such as Fort Siloso, Open Top and Sentosa.
“Sentosa is themed as a destination on the island and round the island. Shopping, entertainment, leisure and lifestyle are covered. It offers a little difference because we’re an island resort.” said Patricia Chan, Manager for Communications of the Sentosa Leisure Group.
She added: “We’re 25 minutes from the airport and 15 minutes away from the city. We’re in the midst of the airport, the Central Business District and Orchard.”