Volvo race sails past Annapolis

It appears that Annapolis' successful run as a port of call for the Volvo Ocean Race has come to an abrupt end.

All indications are that Boston will replace Baltimore and Annapolis as the lone United States stopover for the 2008-2009 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race. The Chesapeake Bay region hosted the around-the-world sailing spectacle in 1998, 2002 and 2006.

The Baltimore-Annapolis area's chances of retaining the prestigious race took a major hit on March 30 when PUMA announced that it will field an entry in the next Volvo Ocean Race. PUMA, a global sports lifestyle company that specializes in footwear and other apparel, has...