Volvo race organizers warn yacht crews over India situation

11-28-2008 | AFP

The teams must be extra-vigilant ahead of their arrival in the Indian port of Kochi

Panama Star HONG KONG. The organisers of the round-the-world Volvo Ocean Race have warned participants to be extra-vigilant ahead of their arrival in the Indian port of Kochi after a series of coordinated attacks in Mumbai.

"The stakeholders of the Volvo Ocean Race in Kochi... are currently being informed of the situation and advised to be extra vigilant with security," said organisers in a statement sent to AFP in Hong Kong.

"The organisers of the Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) have been monitoring the developments in Mumbai (and) have sought advice from their various security consultants... as to what actions, if any, the race should be taking," they said.

The eight-strong racing fleet was just 800 nautical miles from the finish line of the race's second leg in Kochi, 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) south of Mumbai, they said.

"The risk of terrorism in Kochi was previously at the 'underlying threat' level. Currently no upgrade of terrorist threat level has been made for the city of Kochi following the developments in Mumbai," the statement added.

Some 400 people, including crew, organisers and accompanying media are expected to arrive in Kochi as early as Sunday.

The second stage of the eight-yacht race started in Cape Town, South Africa on November 15 and was scheduled to continue to India.