VOR: "Most radical shake-up" announcement on Thursday – and we know what it is

QUOTE-UNQUOTE: "Prepare for the most radical shake up in the Volvo Ocean Race's history. On 18 May 2017, the Volvo Ocean Race will present a series of announcements in Gothenburg, Sweden – at the home of the race's owners and title sponsors, Volvo. The event, which started life in 1973 as the Whitbread Round the World Race, is nearing its 50-year anniversary, and fans can look forward to hearing about some key decisions which see the race into the next decade and beyond. Not in Gothenburg? No worries. The whole event will be streamed as it happens on Facebook Live. Watch this space for more details on the broadcast." –From the "Save the Date" announcement issued last week by the Volvo Ocean Race.

Yes, we have a pretty good idea of what is going to be announced, but we will respect the esteemed Mark Turner & Co's confidentiality so they can make a splash for Volvo, and our sport, this coming Thursday. I'm impressed with how Mark has handled things so far since taking over as CEO, and more power to him. The sport needs good leadership – at all levels.

Everyone is trying to guess whether they will announce a foiling multi- or monohull for the 2019-20 race (the"current" race starts this October in the VOR one-design 65' monohulls used in the last event with upgrades). What if we were to suggest that the 2019 VOR will involve both? Tune in on Thursday to the VOR website for the big news, which, of course, we will have here, too, as we are planning to live blog the event.