First new boat launched for Volvo Ocean Race

AUCKLAND, New Zealand—The first new boat for the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 has been launched on the Hauraki Gulf.

Team New Zealand took its boat, Camper, for its first sail this week. It is one of several third-generation Volvo Open 70 boats that will debut during the next two months.

The Volvo Ocean Race begins in October in Alicante, Spain, and will finish in Galway, Ireland, the following July. It will cover 39,000 nautical miles.

U.S. team Puma Ocean Racing is scheduled to launch its new boat in late April or early May in Newport, Rhode Island.