Volvo Ocean Race speedsters quench thirst at Ferrari World

9 Jan 2012, 15:58UTC

Volvo Ocean Race speedsters quench thirst at Ferrari World

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The Volvo Ocean Race sailors are used to travelling through the water at speeds of well over 25 knots – just under 40mph – but that’s nothing compared to the blistering 215mph hit by Formula 1 drivers.

Volvo Ocean Race crew members Rob Greenhalgh and Tom Addis take part in a pit-stop challenge at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12.

IAN ROMAN/Volvo Ocean Race

Volvo Ocean Race crew members Brad Jackson, Rob Greenhalgh and Tom Addis take part in a pit-stop challenge at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12.

IAN ROMAN/Volvo Ocean Race

Volvo Ocean Race crew member Brad Marsh takes part in a pit-stop challenge at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12.

IAN ROMAN/Volvo Ocean Race

“I like speed, I like to go fast, I like the Ferraris!” - Zane Gills, Team Telefónica

So, a bunch of speed-mad sailors from the ‘Formula 1 of the seas’ made the most of a rare day off in Abu Dhabi to check out Ferrari World, the world’s largest indoor theme park dedicated solely to the fastest cars on the planet.

“Everyone’s comparing these cars with our boats,” said Team Telefónica’s Pablo Arrarte. “Our boats are the fastest monohulls on the water and these cars are the fastest things on land. It’s good.”

Crewmate Zane Gills added: “I like speed, I like to go fast, I like the Ferraris!”

After racing round a virtual track, the sailors turned pit lane engineers trying their hand at a Formula 1 tyre change.

Groupama sailing team bowman Brad Marsh had been hoping to check out the world’s fastest rollercoaster, which fires visitors along at 150mph with a G-Force of 4.8

“The best thing about Ferrari World is we get to go fast and stay dry,” Marsh said. “That’ll be a new experience.”

However it wasn’t to be, with the ride forced to shut down with technical difficulties before the sailors could jump on.