Times have changed, offshore racing has changed, boats and technology have changed but Carla Anselmi asks whether the sailors and

Three-race Whitbread veteran João Cabeçadas is delighted that the Volvo Ocean Race will visit Portuguese shores during the 2011-12 edition. His countrymen are “ready to accept the challenge”, he says.

In this short extract from his book about the Volvo Ocean Race 2008-09, Spanish Castle to White Night, Mark Chisnell writes about the watch systems used by the crews - the focus of the chapter about Leg Six.

With a third place finish into Stockholm, Ericsson 4 have delivered victory in the Volvo Ocean Race. From their first win in leg one into Cape Town, Torben Grael's men have been the team to beat.

Tidal flows, squalls, shifts - and ships - continue to play havoc with the fleet on Leg 8. PUMA has dropped to the bottom of the leaderboard after blowing out a spinnaker.