VOLVO OCEAN RACE FLAGS

VOLVO OCEAN RACE FLAGS

Abu Dhabi was flying its flags today. Looking at the picture immediately below, there are three smaller tangled flags between the mast and the Abu Dhabi red and yellow flag. The  Grey flag, -at the  top- is for Overall Race Leader, The Blue flag hanging in the middle reads  1st Leg Winner and the pink flag hanging at the  bottom reads in-Port Race Winner. The successive flags gives a better inkling of the inscriptions on the flags.   By the looks of things Abu Dhabi Racing appears to have a bright future in the the successive legs. Collectively their sailors have more than 20 years of sailing experience.

The three flags are fully visible but the writing is indistinguishable.

Cameramen filming on deck while the Pink flag is getting tangled
 yet readable saying In-Port Winner.

The words "OVERALL LEADER " is just above visible in the tangled Grey Flag

The words " IN-PORT RACE WINNER" is much clearer & 1st LEG WINNER reads back to front

Abu Dhabi against the backdrop of Table mountain and Devil's peak.

Race day in the Bay, some two hours before the official start of the race.

Abu Dhabi and Dongfeng passing on another in opposite directions.

Small yachts race is clearly visible in the bay leading up to the main event.

VOLVO OCEAN RACE 2014-5 COUNTDOWN

VOLVO OCEAN RACE SECOND LEG

Tomorrow will be the final day in Cape Town for the 7 yacht teams before they leave for Abu Dhabi - the 2nd leg of the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15.  As can be seen on the image below, the sailors will be celebrating new years eve in the beautiful city of Abu Dhabi then start with the In-port race on 2nd January and depart on the 3rd of January for Sanya in China; the 3rd leg of the Volvo ocean race 2014-15.

Abu Dhabi is the Stopover for the 3rd Leg of the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15

The Abu Dhabi Team are having a strategy meeting and the Dongfeng Team are still busy with preparations. Power leads and air tools were humming with sailors are all scurrying along the floating quays loading water and their daily rations.

Final Words before departure.

The Volvo Ocean Race Cup is made of highly polished stainless steel completely engraved and weight a good 20kgs.

The Volvo Ocean Race Around the World cup.

Flags are blowing full height in attention to the Volvo Ocean Race sailors.

VOLVO OCEAN RACE 2014-15 EXPO

continued from  VOLVO OCEAN RACE.

VOLVO OCEAN RACE 2014-15 EXPO

CAPE TOWN STOPOVER

Just two more days to go before the start of the second leg of the Volvo Ocean Race; Cape Town - Abu Dhabi. Yesterday the winds were blowing at about 20 knots inside Table Bay Harbour, luckily the yachts were safely moored safely alongside the floating quays well shielded from the howling winds by the Harbour Quays. Today the wind was once again calm and hopefully it will remain that way until the the 19th when the 2nd Leg, Cape Town - Abu Dhabi will commence.  It a blessing in disguise that the In-Port race was completed when it was, two days ago.

The results for the In-Port Race on the 15/11/2014 are as follows.

Abu Dhabi 1st
Team Brunel 2nd
Team SCA 3rd
DongFeng 4th
Team Vestas 5th
Team Alimedica 6th
MAPFRE  7th

Team Alvimedica busy with final preparations.

All hands were on deck as final preparations were made before departure. Mainsails, Jibs and Spinkers were checked and additional sails were loaded, hatches were checked and the coffee grinders and ropes were checked. Navigation equipment was checked. All 7 boats are fitted with Inmarsat satellite navigation systems.

The Abu Dhabi Team seems to be done with everything with 9 harnesses hanging waiting for the crew.

Team Brunel also still busy working on their yacht.

Team Dongfeng  just closed up the mainsail with its cover.

Team Vestas doing final checks.

Team Mapfre complete loading drinking water a few  minutes ago.

Team SCA has replaced 1st leg sailors and busy as bees.

Continued on NEXT BLOG.

VOLVO OCEAN RACE EXPO CAPE TOWN

VOLVO OCEAN RACE CAPE TOWN

 The Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 is the world's toughest sailing race and the greatest effort towards foreign relations ever which started on the 2nd October 2014 in Alicante. Six teams of yachtsmen and one team of yacht's-women competing for the Volvo Ocean Race - around the World Cup. Racing for a total distance of 38739  nautical miles,  from Alicante in Spain and ending in Gothenburg in Sweden. An experience each and every yachtsman and yachtswoman will cherish for the rest of the sailing days much like my part in the Cape2Rio Race replays in my mind as if it were only yesterday. Then there was the Cape Town to Punta del Este race and the Cape Town to St. Malo race that left behind unforgettable memories.

Alicante to Cape town was the 1st leg of the Volvo Ocean Race.

The Volvo Ocean Race Cup - photo courtesy of Volvo Ocean Race and Inmarsat.

VOLVO OCEAN RACE CAPE TOWN

The Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 Expo is taking place right now , and the sailing exhibition has been hosted here in the Waterfront, Cape Town since the 1st November and will continue for some time after the yachts depart on the 19th November 2014. Cape town is the second leg of the 'Volvo Ocean Race', and the stop-over for the yachts which sailed the first leg from Alicante in Spain. From Cape Town they will depart for Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Thereafter they're off to Sanya in China, then to Auckland in New Zealand,  Etaji in Brazil, Newport in the United States of America, then Lisbon in Portugal, Lorient in France,  The Hague in the Netherlands and finally Gothenburg in Sweden. The Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 will finish six months from now with the final in-Port race on the 27 June 2015. Total distance of the the race is 38739 nautical miles. See route map below.

The moorings for the 7 yachts can be seen in front of the boat in the water - floating quays.
The yachts were sailing offshore are competing in the in Port Race.

Volvo Ocean Race 2015-15 Route

Nearest to furthest: Abu Dhabi, Dongfeng, Brunel, Vestas, Alimedica, SCA and Mapfre Yachts moorings.

Today the 7 teams are out 'offshore sailing' competing in the In-Port race. Meanwhile their support teams are intermingling with the spectators and visitors. The Dongfeng Race Team  "The Chinese" entertained the crowds with martial arts and Tai Chi demonstrations. For updated information about the teams and the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 route, download the live streaming app from iTunes or Google Play and 'travel around the world'. But first, let's plot the positions of the yachts in the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15.

Volvo ocean race Alicante - Cape Town

Abu Dhabi Ocean racing, 1st
Dongfeng Race Team, 2nd
Team Brunel,  3rd
Team Vestas Wind, 4th
Team Alvimedica, 5th
Team SCA, 6th
Team MAPFRE, 7th

These 7 teams will be referred to by their nicknames in future blogs.

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing - "The Emirates"
Dongfeng - "The Chinese"
Team Brunel -"The Dutchies"
Team Vesta Wind - "The Danes"
Team Alvimedica - "The Youngsters" 
Team SCA -"The Girls"
Team MAPFRE, "The Spaniards"

Dongfeng which means "East Wind" represents the Chinese Truck manufacturer sponsoring  the Chinese team. It is the first time a Chinese team is has entered the Volvo Ocean Race even though several  of the Chinese crew have never crossed the ocean.

Dongfeng is the official sponsor of the Chinese team.

The Dongfeng Truck face above compares very favourably with the Volvo Truck and Bus faces which will be shown in successive blogs. In the next Blog we meet the racing teams About the Teams..

Three days before the start of the Volvo Ocean race 2014-15, notice there are no flags.

The day before the start of the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15, notice the flags.

IFSEC THE PREMIER EXPO IN SOUTH AFRICA

IFSEC SOUTH AFRICA 2013

IFSEC 2013, is the is the Premier Commercial Security EXPO in South Africa. It is destined to take place from 18-20 June 2013 at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand and will bring all the players in Commercial Security, Homeland Security, Fire exhibition and several other trades together on the African continent.  IFSEC South Africa was the winner of the 2012 EXSA Award for Best Trade Show in the 6000-12000 square meter category and is likely to win it once again. In  2012 IFSEC boasted over 200 exhibitors who collectively attracted some 6,000 visitors from the respective trade sectors, key decision-makers, technical professionals,  government buyers and end-user markets,  as well as some 200 exhibitors.

IFSEC technology on display for the refineries

IFSEC 2013 is normally a highly interactive three-day event with international appeal and is guaranteed to attract hoards of visitors both local and foreign as well as attract local and foreign exhibitors. In fact it is so huge that  it's a  must  visit for managers, technical directors and technical consultants and heads of operations who are responsible for security, planning and purchasing. It is also imperative that decision makers in I.T. and those working in the commercial sectors, such as construction, biometrics, hospitality, mining, health and education, electronics, petrochemicals, finance, property development and the media attend.

Other players who shouldn't miss the opportunities at IFSEC, are consultants and professionals involved in fire and security,  technology, distributors and installers, manufacturers, systems designers, consultants and value-added resellers. Representatives from Government bodies and  Public Security Departments, Law Enforcement, Prison Services, and Special Security Forces, Customs, Excise and Forensics.

IFSEC South Africa provides the ideal opportunity and the perfect platform for both international and local exhibitors and manufacturers to showcase their solutions to a receptive audience with immediate requirements and a strong purchasing power. IFSEC is also an ideal opportunity for international exhibitors to showcase their products  to a huge crowd of prospective partners to represent them locally or form alliances or cooperations.

IFSEC  is held in a friendly, informal and relaxed environment, enabling artisans, professionals, exhibitors and buyer from the following list of trades to meet, trade and   discuss solutions. IFSEC. Air trafic controllers and airport personal in general. GIS Scientists, Town Planners, Architects and Quantity Surveyers.  Armed Response Security Companies, Construction and Property development, Defence Services and Government representatives. Hotels,  Spas, Casinos and Resorts.  Insurance, Mining,  Retail, Security Consultants, Suppliers of Security Products,  Warehousing and Distribution and Long haul  Transport Companies. IFSEC. Alarm systems suppliers, CCTV & cameras, Communication equipment, Emergency services, Security seals, Tazers, Firearms & weapons, Police,  Prisons, Metal detectors, Fire detection & control,  Home & corporate security, ID and face recognition systems, IT & integrated computer systems, Lighting & cabling, Electronic Locks, Night vision optics, Perimeter & Personal security, Protective clothing, Risk management, Safety equipment,  Vehicle tracking & recovery systems, X-ray systems, Medical and remote management equipment, Motor Vehicle diagnostics and Engineering to mention but a few. Each and every one with an opportunity to source the widest range of world-class products and services this year. IFSEC

IFSEC Beautiful women in wedding gowns.

IFSEC Audi and VW Polo Diagnostics

IFSEC Learn how  to make a bomb.

TOURIST AND TRADE EXPOS

Expo WP was probably the first real EXPO in Cape Town that really caught the attention of the general public. Subsequently there has been numerous other Expos all over the country especially in Johannesburg, trying to capture what EXPO WP started in Cape Town. As Expos go, they only last a few days whereas EXPO WP in Cape Town was a full-time EXPO venue where exhibitors could showcase there products 7 days a week 365 days per year. However, since EXPO WP closed down, there has been several other successful EXPOs in Cape Town and numerous still on the cards for the year 2013.

Coming up is the  Golfing Indaba. The date for this EXPO will be announce shortly. Further details can be found HERE or email queries can be sent to golf@golfingindaba.com or may be  followed on www.facebook.com/golfingindaba.

Then there is the African Unity Week Expo destined for 14-15th May 2013 in Cape Town and the Baby Indaba destined for the 26-28th July at the same venue.

2013 Cape HOMEMAKERS Expo is scheduled for 29 August - 1 September at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).  Thursday – Saturday, 10:00 – 20:00 and on Sunday, 10:00 -18:00  Entry:  Adults – R65.00 Entry: Pensioners – R40 and Entry: Children under 12 – Free

Much like EXPO WP, the 2013 Cape HOMEMAKERS Expo, will offer exhibitors the perfect platform to showcase their latest in home improvement products, décor and the latest lifestyle trends. The Expo highlights will include In VOGUE, a world-wide trend handcrafted product supplier. d’VINE Life, a cheese and wine olive oils , decadent toffees and several other gourmet goodies. Alfresco Living supply designer decks and patios, sparkling pools and other innovative shade solutions amongst many other home decorative goods. The DIY Workshop, the Future of Design, the Audiovision Sound Emporium as well as the newly launched, ARTISAN affair.

My Business EXPO
Thursday, 26 September 2013 sees the My Business EXPO taking place at Grand Arena, GrandWest Casino, Cape Town. The My Business Expo will function as a host to the "Business Startup Expo".
Should you pre-register, the event is free of charge. Without pre-registration, a small entrance fee will be requested on arrival, so its feasible for you to pre-register today! My Business Expo is all about business to business networking, with a Buzz  party exclusively for those who register early. The highlight of My Bussiness EXPO is that throughout the entire day, visitors can attend world class seminars that deliver, practical and interactive information, strategies and ideas, that you can immediately apply to your future, start-up or existing business.

Mama Magic Expo 2013
16 - 19 MAY, 2013 AT THE COCA-COLA DOME

So if you are a Mama, come and discover the world of parenting at Mama Expo and take advantage of the best prices available on kids clobber. There will be over a 1000 show specials from the various  retail partners.  Most giving expert advice, alongside product demonstrations and daily competitions. Barney™ will be live on stage.

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Beautiful Brides

VUVUSELA - THE SOUTH AFRICAN ALPINE HORN

Tens of thousands of Vuvuzela were sold at Expo WP over several months prior to the Soccer World Cup in South Africa, especially at the night market. Hence, hundreds of thousands of soccer fans and spectators  religiously take their vuvuzelas along whenever they go watch their favorite soccer team play. But this may not be for long, because the annoying sound of the vuvuzela may be lost from South African soccer grounds forever if the PSL management so decide. This is not because because of the incessant drowning wall of noise which made the vuvuzela so unpopular with global audiences during the 2010 World Cup but rather because of the security threat they may present.

The globally famous vuvuzela - the Alpine horn from South Africa

Premier Soccer League (PSL) officials mentioned that although they are not intending to pursue banning the vuvuzela, it has become a matter of concern after a bout in incidents where the vuvuzela was used to cause alleged injury. Premier Soccer League (PSL) general manager Derek Blanckensee said "Our rules ban all dangerous weapons from matches,"  "If the vuvuzela is to become a dangerous weapon then we will look into this."

Vuvuzelas are made of lightweight plastic and seems very incapable of causing grievous bodily harm but it may be a way to rid soccer of the all too familiar sound of the vuvuzela. Vuvuzela bashing has taken on a new form since vuvuzelas were among a number of objects like cooldrink cans, plastic bottles and fruit thrown at Orlando Pirates coach Roger de Sa after his side were held to a draw by AmaZulu at the Moses Mabhida Stadium earlier this year. Not long thereafter a supporter, who took offence at a red-card decision against his team, charged on the pitch and attempted to strike the referee with the plastic instrument during a league match between Lamontville Golden Arrows and Kaizer Chiefs in Durban. Kaizer Chiefs is South Africa's most popular soccer club and they have been chasing after a first league title for the past eight years.

British and South African soccer fans competing in noise production with their vuvuselas.

On a different occasion,  another Chiefs supporter,  was apprehended after he too ran onto the soccer field. Both these spectators were arrested and released on R500 ($55) bail. These abnormal incidents have not only called  the level of security at PSL games into question but also the future of the world famous  vuvuzela which remains popular with most local fans. PSL officials are wary of a possible backlash should they ban the vuvusela and not permit them to be brought to soccer matches.  The vuvusela quickly became popular with international soccer fans, especially Brazillians and Englishmen who bought then to take back to the Britain. It is very unfortunate that several countries have already banned the vuvuzela since fans attempted to bring it into stadiums and setup a wall of noise.

Photojani Photographic studios at EXPO WP have more than a 1000 photographs on show of the Soccer World Cup and vuvuselas in general and this is just a sample.