"The Everest of sailing"
Spanning nearly 40,000 nautical miles, the Volvo Ocean Race is so grueling it's often called the 'Everest of Sailing'. The seven 65-foot racing yachts, built identically for the first time, started from Alicante in Spain on October 4, 2014. The route includes 10 ports in 10 countries (Spain, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, China, New Zealand, Brazil, United States, Portugal, France and Sweden) over nine months finishing in Sweden in late June.
In this photo, Maciel Cicchetti driving, Tony Rae on mainsheet, and Nicolai Sehestead is on trim as Team Vestas Wind surfs at 25 knts on the morning of Day 8 during Leg 1 between Alicante, Spain and Cape Town, South Africa, October 18, 2014.
By CBSNews.com senior photo editor Radhika Chalasani
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 2
Team SCA participates in the Cape Town In-Port Race of The Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 on November 15, 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Team SCA, an all-female crew with members from all over the world, has the only women sailors competing for the world's premier ocean yacht race, including three from the U.S. One of the Americans, Sara Hastreiter, grew up in landlocked-Wyoming and only started sailing a few years ago.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 2
The fleet during the start of Leg 2 from Cape Town to Abu Dhabi on November 19, 2014 in Cape Town.
The Volvo Ocean Race is the world's premier ocean race for professional racing crews.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 2
Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing crew Luke Parkinson takes advantage of the light winds to go up the mast to patch a Main Sail car near the second spreader during Leg 2 between Cape Town and Abu Dhabi, November 23, 2015. The crews were already starting to feel the full effects of the endurance test with Leg 1, which covered 6,487 nautical miles, taking them 25 days to complete.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 2
The Danish boat Team Vestas Wind is seen stranded on a reef at Cargados Carajos Shoals, Mauritius, in the middle of the Indian Ocean during Leg 2 from Cape Town to Abu Dhabi, November 29, 2014. Fortunately, no one was injured.
The crew incorrectly assessed the charted depth and thought it was safe to sail across the shoals, according to the grounding report. The wreck knocked Team Vestas Wind out of competition, but the badly damaged boat was retrieved to be rebuilt in Italy. The crew hopes to rejoin the race in Lisbon.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 2
The crew of Team Vestas Wind head back to the $6 million boat to retrieve everything they can; including ropes, diesel, Inmarsat dome and sails, following the grounding of the boat on a reef at Cargados Carajos Shoals, Mauritius, December 03, 2014.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 2
Onboard Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, November 23, 2014. Ian Walker surrounded by the repaired A3 sail, keeps his weight forward while taking a nap during Leg 2 between Cape Town and Abu Dhabi.
The six teams of eight crew and one team of 11 (Team SCA is all women and is allowed more crew) trade four hours on duty and four hours off.
Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing finished third in Leg 2 after a first place finish in Leg 1. Leg 2 took 19 days. There are line honors for each leg and point totals overall to consider. Rough weather means more wind and faster sailing, but takes its toll.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 2
Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing's Dr. Wendy (Phil) Harmer repairs Justin Slattery's sensitive tooth with temporary filling work in the bow while floating along in the Doldrums during Leg 2 on November 30, 2014 between Cape Town and Abu Dhabi.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 3
It was a very misty start for the fleet in Leg 3 from Abu Dhabi to Sanya, China, January 03, 2015. The thick fog complicated things and the crews spent the night in the Gulf carrying out non-stop tacks.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 3
After weeks of use, the J1 tack has nearly worn through for Team SCA. Stacey Jackson, Justine Mettraux, and Abby Ehler replaced the tack at sea during Leg 3 between Abu Dhabi and Sanya, China, January 24, 2015.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 3
Team Brunel keeps an eye on their competition in close racing through the Malacca Straits, having finally caught up during Leg 3, between Abu Dhabi and Sanya, China, January 21, 2015. They eventually finished fifth when they arrived in Sanya.
Dongfeng owned the race after taking the lead the second day out of Abu Dhabi, finishing first after 23 days, 13 hours, 31 minutes and 38 seconds in Sanya. It was an impressive win in China for the half-Chinese crew.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 3
The close sailing east through the Straits of Hormuz continues for Team Alvimedica as the fleet enters the Gulf on it's way towards India. The bow is full of bodies resting in light sailing conditions during Leg 3 between Abu Dhabi and Sanya, China.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 3
Crews use salt water and some detergent to do laundry then clean themselves with what's left over. Laundry hangs off the back of Dongfeng during Leg 3 between Abu Dhabi, and Sanya, China.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 4
The fleet passes the waypoint by the Guanyin statue during the start of Leg 4 from Sanya, China to Auckland, February 08, 2015.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 4
After fighting all night with MAPFRE and Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, Jiru Yang 'Wolf' onboard Dongfeng, in the final stages of Leg 4 from Sanya to Auckland, February 08, 2015.
Dongfeng, who had scored the perfect hat-trick during Leg 3 in their home port of Sanya - a leg win, and In-Port win and the first to lead the fleet out of the bay - clung on to first place in Leg 4, by just 0.8nm, with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing in second.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 4
First sighting of Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing during sunrise, 100nm from the finish line during the finish of Leg 4 from Sanya, China to Auckland, February 28, 2015.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 4
Onboard Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, Ian Walker and Simon "SiFi" Fisher review the latest schedule in the nav station showing no gain on Dongfeng February 24, 2015 but a significant breakaway from the rest of the fleet.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 4
Team Alvimedica during the finish of Leg 4 from Sanya, China to Auckland, New Zealand.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 4
MAPFRE is seen here heading towards a first place finish in Leg 4 arriving in Auckland, February 28, 2014.
There was just eight minutes between the front three boats-with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing and Dongfeng Race Team taking silver and bronze.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 5
Phil Harmer tries to brush his teeth away from the saltwater onboard Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing as waves crash over the boat during Leg 5, March 23, 2015.
The rough seas cost competitor Dongfeng a broken mast, forcing them to retire from the leg (which gave them an eighth place 'finish' in the standings for the leg along with Team Vestas Wind, who was still out for repairs.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 5
Luke "Parko" Parkinson swings out over the southern ocean, onboard Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing to tie a changing sheet at sunset, March 23, 2015.
Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing placed first in Leg 5 leading the fleet overall after wet and wild conditions.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 5
The battered and weathered hand of Justin Slattery on his 5th rounding of Cape Horn in his career onboard Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, March 30, 2015.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 5
Louis Sinclair, Daryl Wislang, and Phil Harmer get the 'fire hydrant' at eye level during a gybe in the Southern Ocean onboard Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 5
Daryl Wislang cleans up the pit after a sail change in wet conditions requiring eye protection to see.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 5
MAPFRE tackles steep and angry seas as they pass East Cape, the eastern-most point of New Zealand during the start of Leg 5 from Auckland to Itajai on March 18, 2015 in Auckland, New Zealand.
MAPFRE was given a two-point penalty at the end of Leg 5. A hearing determined that the Spanish team had applied repairs and alterations without informing the governing authority, breaking class and race rules.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 5
As conditions eased up Team Alvimedica took the lead heading towards the ice limit. Will Oxley of Team Alvimedica checks the on-deck display before Charlie Enright (behind) gybes in front of MAPFRE, March 26, 2015.
Three teams endured'death rolls'and most suffered equipment failures.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 5
Phil Harmer lights up his celebratory cigar using whatever means necessary at Cape Horn onboard Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, March 30, 2015.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 5
Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing approaches the end of Leg 5 in Itajai, Brazil, April 05, 2015.
The ninth crew seen here is an onboard reporter (OBR). Each boat has an OBR to document the round-the-world-race, but they don't participate in the racing.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 6
Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing's Azzam streaks through the water as the team sets out on Leg 6 from Itajai to Newport, Rhode Island, April 19, 2015.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 6
Pablo Arrarte of Team Brunel checks the massive foresail during Day 8 of Leg 6 from Itajai to Newport.
The mainsail seen on the left is 161.4 m². Foresails of varying sizes are used during the race. Each one-design Volvo Ocean 65 is racing around the world with just 12 sails, much less than previous races. No carbon (a common material in high-performance sails) is allowed because it blocks the signals to and from the satellites that are essential for communication and data transfer.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 6
A crew member enjoys some fresh air from the only window onboard MAPFRE during Leg 6 from Itaji, Brazil to Newport, Rhode Island, May 2, 2015.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 6
Adil Khalid of the Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing team faces a wall of water that made its way into the cockpit during a microburst from a rain squall in the Atlantic Ocean during Leg 6 from Itajai, Brazil to Newport, Rhode Island.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 6
A haggard Rob Greenhalgh during the everyday photo project onboard MAPRRE during Leg 6 from Itajai, Brazil to Newport, Rhode Island, May 3, 2015.
The sailors shed 5,000-6,000 calories a day and have to keep up their strength with freeze-dried food and contending with poor sleep, intense stress and being battered by wind, rain, and sun.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 6
The view from the rear onboard Dongfeng Race Team during Leg 6 from Itajai, Brazil to Newport, Rhode Island, April 19, 2015.
Though Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing finished Leg 6 in second place they headed into Leg 7 leading in the standings overall.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 6
Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing's Justin Slattery checks the clew and trim at night as the team races the fleet from Brazil during Leg 6 on April 19, 2015
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 6
Nick Dana finishes hanging on the J1 jib before peeling to the smaller sail in a building breeze for Team Alvimedica during Leg 6 from Brazil to the U.S., May 4, 2015.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 7
Team SCA during the start of the transatlantic Leg 7 as the fleet leaves Newport, Rhode Island head back to Europe, May 17, 2015.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 7
The crew of the all-women SCA boat sits on the rail as the boat leaves Newport for Lisbon, Portugal, May 17, 2015.
Volvo Ocean race - Leg 7
Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing is followed by pleasure boats during the start of Leg 7 to Lisbon, Portugal as it heads out of Newport, May 17, 2015.
MAPFRE led the six-boat fleet at the start of Leg 7 as it crosses the Atlantic to the Portuguese capital of Lisbon.
Just five points separates the top two in the overall rankings heading into Leg 7, with three legs remaining.
For more news: The Volvo Ocean Race