ADVERSITY

Since 1973, the Volvo Ocean Race has built a reputation of being the world’s longest and toughest professional sporting event. Over four decades, the event has kept an almost mythical hold over some of the world’s greatest ever sailors.

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A Race Again‍‍‍st

he Volvo Ocean Race is often described as the longest and toughest professional sporting event in the world, sailing’s toughest team challenge and one of the sport’s Big Three events, alongside the Olympics and America’s Cup.

To truly understand the race, though, it is better to think of it in a way the athletes who take part will recognise immediately. It is the sailing world’s equivalent of winning the FIFA World Cup but facing dangers greater than scaling Mount Everest.

Put simply, the Volvo Ocean Race is an obsession, and many of the world's best sailors have dedicated years, even decades of their lives trying to win it.

Take Sir Peter Blake, who first competed in the 1973-74 edition and came back again and again until he finally conquered his Everest, securing an overwhelming victory with Steinlager 2 in 1989-90. Only then was he able to fully turn his attention to other projects.

The race sits, just as it always has, at the intersection of human adventure, and world-class competition. Onboard Reporters sail the oceans with every team facing the same adversities, their priceless work giving fans a unique insight into just what it takes to win a race that is relentless in its demands – as teams give everything they have, 24 hours a day, in pursuit of the tiny advantages that can make all the difference.‍‍‍

Competition is fierce; all teams use the same boat, the only way to win is by sailing harder, and smarter, than your competitors. The race is won out on the water; not in the design phase, and certainly not guaranteed by having deeper pockets.

There is no prize money for the winners, but seeing your name etched into one of the silver rings of the Volvo Ocean Race Trophy is a prize beyond compare for sailors who grew up with dreams of emulating the legends of the race – heroic figures who dedicated their professional lives to chasing victory – people like Blake, Éric Tabarly, Conny van Rietschote‍‍‍n, Grant Dalton, Paul Cayard, Ian Walker.

The 2017-18 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race is taking seven competing teams on a trek stretching 45,000 nautical miles around the world, facing the unimaginable dangers across four oceans, touching six continents, and visiting 12 landmark Host Cities. It is a round-the-clock pursuit of competitive edge and the ultimate ocean marathon, pitting the sport’s best sailors against each other across the world’s toughest waters.

It is relentless: the importance of winning, the adventure of life on board, the transformative effect on the sailors, some of whom have even given their lives in the seas in the middle of competition — all of these combine to give the race its power and depth.

After 12 editions and half a‍‍‍ million miles, the 2017-18 campaign flagged off on 22 October from Alicante, Spain, and will conclude in The Hague, Netherlands, in June 2018.

Route of Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18

Going back to the roots of the race with three times as much Southern Ocean sailing as in recent seasons.

The Tro‍‍‍phy

There is no prize money for winning the Volvo Ocean Race – just the prestige of overcoming one of the greatest challenges in professional sport. The Trophy is a symbol of a great many sacrifices made by a great many sailors over the years, with each circle representing an edition of the race going back to 1973-74.

It is made from aluminium and silver plate, stands approximately 70 cm high and weighs around nine kgs. Each ring is engraved with the year, the course and the name of the winning boat and skipper of that race. A new circle will be added for every edition and the Trophy itself will ultimately become an engineering challenge – just like the Race itself.

The Volvo Ocean 65

Previously, teams participating in the Volvo Ocean Race had designed and built their own boats complying to rules laid down by the organizers. Things changed in 2014-15 with the introduction of the Volvo Ocean 65. Teams now race a standardized boat, which not only made racing more affordable, but also placed a greater onus on the sailors to exert every ounce of their ability and endurance to overcome their opponents.

A Race Against‍‍‍ Adversity