A HAMPSHIRE company has led an international consortium to build seven VO65 round the world race yachts for the 2014/15 Volvo Ocean Race.

In a major change from previous races, all the yachts for the 11th staging of the competition will be exactly the same design.

Hythe-based Green Marine has helped to build the 65-foot carbon-fibre racing yachts that will set sail from Alicante tomorrow.

Green Marine, a leading specialist manufacturer of custom race yachts and performance superyachts was responsible for the complete assembly, fit out and launch of all seven VO65 yachts.

Green Marine led the international consortium of custom builders which involved Farr Yacht Design from the USA and three other top European yards from Italy, France and Switzerland.

Green Marine is an established performance yacht builder based in Hythe and has been building many of the world’s best known racing and cruising yachts for 28 years, including Volvo Ocean Race contenders, America’s Cup challengers and cutting-edge high performance cruising superyachts.

Hampshire is renowned for its expertise in sailing and, earlier this year, the county was announced as the home of Ben Ainslie Racing’s Campaign to bid for the America’s Cup in 2017. Richard Acland, CEO Green Marine Limited, said: “It has been an honour to be part of an international team and to produce these cutting-edge, competitive boats. All of the Volvo Ocean 65s launched have successfully completed sea trials in the Solent region and we are thrilled with what the consortium has achieved.”

In order to guarantee the high quality production of all seven yachts in less than two years, all elements of the yachts were built simultaneously across Europe with the bulkheads and internal structures produced in Switzerland, the hulls moulded and longitudinal stiffeners laid in Italy and the desks constructed in France.

The final stage of the precision production process was the assembly, finish and launch executed by Green Marine.