Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015 - Leg 1

AT SEA - NOVEMBER 2: Onboard Dongfeng Race Team. Kevin Escoffier studying crew studying the damages on the boat. Just after 1800 UTC, part of the sheeting system (control lines) for the masthead gennaker (big sail at the front) broke and the high loads held in that line were released across the leeward deck causing significant damage. The damage to the boat includes the broken wheel (will be a handicap for Dongfeng when on the other gybe as they would use this broken wheel - difficult to use the other wheel as you can't see the right part of the sails when you steer - a reason for there being two wheels one on each side), pushpit (the protective bars at back of the boat), aft stanchions (the posts on the side of the boat at the back) above the deck level so no damage to deck itself, and a satcom C antenna - the boat is loaded with communication kit so this one is manageable. during Leg 1 between Alicante, Spain and Cape Town, South Africa. The Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 is the 12th running of this ocean marathon. Starting from Alicante in Spain on October 11, 2014, the route, spanning some 39,379 nautical miles, visits 11 ports in 11 countries (Spain, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, China, New Zealand, Brazil, United States, Portugal, France, the Netherlands and Sweden) over nine months. The Volvo Ocean Race is the world's premier ocean race for professional racing crews. (Photo by Yann Riou/Dongfeng Race Team/Volvo Ocean Race via Getty Images)