From its original manifestation 45 years ago, when on 8 September 1973, 19 boats crossed the start line on a foggy British morning at the beginning of the first Whitbread Race around the world, to the spectacularly close finish in The Hague this year of the hard-fought 2017-18 edition – the Volvo Ocean Race remains as imperiously tough and prestigious as it ever has been.
Source: Volvo Ocean Race