The Volvo Ocean Race, formerly known as the Whitbread Round the World Race, is held every four years and has been called the ultimate sailing adventure. Eight international teams of professional yachtsmen compete in a grueling eight-month, nine-leg race around the world. This year's course measures a total of 31,000 nautical miles and runs from Vigo, Spain, to Cape Town, South Africa; Melbourne, Australia; Wellington, New Zealand; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Baltimore/Annapolis; New York; Portsmouth, England; Rotterdam, The Netherlands; and finally ending in Gothenburg, Sweden.The 2005-2006 race is the first to begin outside of England, since the original Whitbread competition in 1972. This year also marks the introduction of a new class of boat, the Volvo Open 70, which has a lighter hull and larger sail area than previous boats.The competing boats completed the shortest (380 miles) and sixth leg of the race from Annapolis to New York City on May 9, 2006, and begun the transatlantic seventh leg to England at 11 am on Thursday, May 11. Their Majesties King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden were in attendance in New York to celebrate the race and to observe the start of the seventh leg.For more information: www.volvooceanrace.orgPhoto: © David Branigan