A huge boost to the Volvo Ocean Race yesterday, as Spain has announced a two-boat entry for the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race. The participation of the Spanish entries was officially confirmed by Francisco Camps Ortiz, the regional president of Valencia, at a civic reception in the start port of Alicante.

The participation of two Spanish boats brings the number of confirmed entries in the race to five. The others are Mean Machine (The Netherlands), Ericsson (Sweden) and PUMA (United States).

Pedro Campos (pictured), who headed up the movistar entry in the 2005-06 race, has been tasked with managing the Spanish campaign. Sponsors for the two boats will be announced over the coming weeks.

‘We are delighted to be coming back and entering two Spanish boats in the Volvo Ocean Race. We are pleased to be supporting the city of Alicante and are working hard to put a strong campaign together on their behalf,’ Campos said.

‘In the last race, Sanxenxo and Vigo and the whole region of Galicia attracted huge crowds and a world wide television audience through their involvement in the race and we are pleased that Alicante now has the same opportunity of hosting one of the biggest sports events in the world.’

Commenting on the announcement, Glenn Bourke, the CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race, said: ‘It’s great news that we will have a major Spanish presence in 2008-09 with Alicante as the start port and two boats flying the flag for Spain out on the race track. The Spanish have a proud historical link with the Whitbread/Volvo and I am delighted that the tradition is being maintained.’