Volvo Open 70 Azzam

Azzam, racing as Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, won the 2011–12 Volvo Ocean Race under skipper Ian Walker — giving the Abu Dhabi campaign its first Volvo victory and delivering Farr Yacht Design another round-the-world race win. The boat’s consistent performance across all legs, from the North Sea to the Southern Ocean and the Pacific, defined a dominant campaign.

The Abu Dhabi programme represented the Gulf region’s growing investment in offshore racing as a global platform, and Walker’s tactical and leadership skills turned a well-resourced campaign into a race winner. The Azzam’s win in 2011–12 remains one of the highlights of the Open 70 era in Volvo Ocean Race history.