The Volvo Ocean 65 is a class of monohull racing yachts. It is the successor to the Volvo Open 70 yacht used in past editions of the Volvo Ocean Race. It was announced at a conference in Lorient, France, during a stopover in the 2011–12 Volvo Ocean Race. The yacht was used for the 2014–2015, the 2017–2018 and the 2023 editions. The 2014–2015 Volvo Ocean Race was the first one-design event.

Design The yacht was designed, by Farr Yacht Design, to be a cheaper and safer alternative to the expensive and highly stressed Volvo Open 70.

After many safety concerns in the 2011–12 Volvo Ocean Race, many began doubting the safety of the Volvo Open 70, due to many designers opting for fast designs while failing to meet safety requirements. Former Volvo Ocean Race CEO, and four time competitor Knut Frostad hinted at a new boat design to address the current safety concerns in a statement he made during a press conference on April 4, 2012, stating: "It's important that we don't leap to any conclusions about why these breakages have happened. Some of them are clearly not related. However, we will take the current issues into account as we make decisions on rules and technology we will be using in the future." Frostad also went on to say "We have already put in a lot of work, discussing with teams, designers and all other stakeholders about the boats and the rules we will use in the future, and we expect to be in a position to announce a decision on that before the end of the current race."

On June 28, 2012, Knut Frostad revealed the design at a press conference in Lorient during a stopover in the 2011–12 Volvo Ocean Race. In becoming a one-design event, the new boats are hoped to "significantly reduce the cost of mounting a campaign and bring the size of the fleet to 8–10 boats for future editions." Frostad went on to state an entire campaign for future editions of the race would be around €15 million, and a "ready to sail" boat, including pre-race and race sails would be around €4.5 million in comparison to the €30–40 million region a current campaign can fall into.

Construction It takes 7 months and 36000 man hours to build, assemble, and paint a Volvo Ocean 65. There are 120 boatbuilders who work with 70 suppliers to outfit the boat.

Yachts There are currently eight Volvo Ocean 65's. They have all been brought to the same standard between the 2014–2015 and the 2017–2018 race at an estimated upgrade cost in the €1 million range.

+ Volvo Ocean 65's and teams Yacht MMSI 2014–2015 Team 2017–2018 Team2021 Team* 2023 Team 224530860 Mapfre Mapfre Sailing Poland 470437000 Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag Viva México Viva México 235101548 Team SCA Ambersail II Ambersail II 319081500 Team Vestas Wind Turn the Tide on Plastic 319060300 Dongfeng Race Team Dongfeng Race Team Mirpuri Foundation Racing Mirpuri Foundation Racing 244780246 Team Brunel Team Brunel Team Childhood I Team JAJO367616310 Team Alvimedica Vestas 11th Hour Racing Austrian Ocean Racing Austrian Ocean Racing p/b Team Genova 319119500 N/A (built new for 2017) Team AkzoNobel WindWhisper Racing Team *The Ocean Race Europe

Changes for 2017–2018 race The yachts featured a 500W Watt & Sea hydrogenerator to reduce emissions and wear on the Volvo Penta Marine engine.

Partners and equipment

+ Suppliers and Equipment Supplier Equipment North Sails. Sails Southern Spars Mast Future Fibres Rigging Systems ECsix carbon rigging Future Fibres Rigging Systems TorqueLite 2.0 Furling cablesNorth Technology Group Forestays in the removable furling sail Inmarsat data and voice transmission equipment Gottifredi Maffioli 3000 meters of running rigging Equiplite Main halyard block, barberhaul blocks, and lead blocks Mastervolt alternators, regulators, batteries, chargers and power management systems Diverse Yacht Services system integrator for electrical systems Cariboni Keel Canting mechanisms and keel bearings Harken Winch systems Iron Brothers Keel and bulb Volvo Penta Marine Engines 75 horsepower Volvo Penta D2-75 KZ Racefurlers furlersSpinlock Clutches and jammersWatt & SeaHydrogenerator

Specifications Features Measurements / Notes Hull length 20.37 m (defined as 66 ft) Length waterline (design) 20.00 m (defined as 65 ft) Length overall (incl. bowsprit) 22.14 m (defined as 72 ft) Hull beam 5.60 m (18.4 ft) Max draft 4.78 m (15.8 ft) Boat weight (empty) 12,500 kg (27,557 lb) Keel arrangement Canting keel to ±40° with 5° of incline at axis Daggerboards Twin, reversible, retracting asymmetric daggerboards Rudders Twin under hull with spare that may also be transom hung Aft Water Ballast Twin 800L ballast tanks under cockpit sides at transom Forward Water Ballast Single centerline 1000L ballast tank forward of mast Rig Height 30.30 m (99.4 ft) Rig Arrangement Deck stepped, twin backstays with deflectors Bowsprit Length 2.14 m (7 ft) Mainsail Area 163 m2 (3 reefing points, 6 battens) Working Headsail (J1) Area 133 m2 (Fixed with hanks on the permanent forestay; horizontal battens) Upwind Sail Area 296–451 m2 (Mainsail and Jib 1 or Masthead Code 0, plus Jib 2 or Jib 3) Downwind Sail Area 578+ m2 (Mainsail and A3 gennaker, additional staysails are permitted)

Comparison to Volvo Open 70 Features Ocean 65 Volvo Open 70 Length 19.80 m (65 ft)/20.37 (66 ft) 21.50 m (70.5 ft) Beam 5.60 m 5.70 m Max Draft 4.78 m 4.50 m Boat Weight 12,500 kg 14,000 kg Righting moment (RM 25) including stacking and Water Ballast 33,000 kg/m 40,000 kg/m Cant Angle 40° 40° Rig Height 30.30 m (99.4 ft) 31.50 m (103.3 ft) Freeboard at Mast 1.72 m 1.60 m Mainsail Area 151 m2 175 m2 Working Headsail Area 135 m2 (J1) 200 m2 (G1) Bowsprit length 2.15 m (7 ft) 1.82 m (6 ft) Number of sails (including storm sails) 7 10 Water Ballast 1x1000L (Centerline, Fwd) 2x800L (Aft Wing Tanks) 1x1600L (Centerline, Aft)

Reception After unveiling the boat design, the reception was mostly positive.

Positive Former competitor and skipper, Grant Dalton stated the new design "attacks the single problem that surrounds our sport at the moment, and that is ridiculous cost."

Negative The most negative feedback to the announcement of a one-design came from yacht designer Juan Kouyoumdjian whose designs had won the previous three editions of the race (2005–06, 2008–09 and 2011–12). He stated his disapproval of the Volvo Ocean Race becoming a one-design event. Juan addressed the main issue of Volvo Open 70's being expensive stating that he could "definitely confirm" the boats he designed fell into the €5 million range, and that despite trying to make the race more accessible to sponsors and more of a testament to a sailors skill, rather than budget, "the richest will always win." Despite his criticism, he also went on to confirm that in the event that the Volvo Ocean Race became a one-design event, he had already been approached to optimize the Volvo 65 design for a "potential future team."

Further information Class Rules and Specifications.

Refit Scope for 2017.

See also IMOCA 60

References