Snapshots from the Volvo Ocean Race

The whole fleet at the Iberdrola In-Port Race in Alicante.

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Fleet at Pro-Am Race day during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012 Alicante stopover.

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Team Sanya training in the Solent, in the lead up to the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12.

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Justin Slattery from Ireland onboard Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, skippered by Ian Walker from the UK at the start of leg 2 from Cape Town, South Africa to Abu Dhabi, UAE.

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Team Puma during leg 2 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Cape Town, South Africa to Abu Dhabi, UAE.

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At the finish of Leg 2 in Abu Dhabi on January 4, Groupama Sailing Team crossed the line first and won the leg. Team Teléfonica kept the overall victory.

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January 14: The start of leg 3 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 from Abu Dhabi, UAE to Sanya, China

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Port Sanya, China stopover of Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012

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Puma Ocean Racing skippered by Ken Read from the USA leads the fleet at the start of leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Sanya, China to Auckland, New Zealand

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Groupama Sailing Team, skippered by Franck Cammas from France, finish first in to Auckland harbour at night, on Leg 4 from Sanya, China to Auckland, New Zealand

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The fleet head out into open water, at the start of leg 5 from Auckland, New Zealand to Itajai, Brazil, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12.

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Team PUMA, skippered by Ken Read from the USA are followed by a spectator fleet, as they take first place on leg 5 from Auckland, New Zealand to Itajai, Brazil, in the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12.

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Michi Mueller stands by on the grinding pedestal waiting for the call of Ryan Godfrey, trimming the sail on the winch beside him. Onboard PUMA Ocean Racing during leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Itajai, Brazil, to Miami, USA.

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Stu Bannatyne using the binoculars to check on the sails of Puma ahead from CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand during leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Itajai, Brazil, to Miami, USA.

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Brad Marsh on a rig check onboard Groupama Sailing Team during leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Itajai, Brazil, to Miami, USA.

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Bowman Zane Gills adjusting the sail, onboard Team Telefonica during leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Itajai, Brazil, to Miami, USA.

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PUMA Ocean Racing, skippered by Ken Read from the USA, take first place on leg 6 from Itajai, Brazil, to Miami, USA, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12.

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CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand, skippered by Chris Nicholson from Australia, sail in second place towards the finish line, on leg 6 from Itajai, Brazil, to Miami, USA, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12.

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The fleet position themselves for the start of leg 7 from Miami, USA to Lisbon, Portugal, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12.

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Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, skippered by Ian Walker from the UK, celebrate on stage, finishing first on leg 7, from Miami, USA to Lisbon, Portugal, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12.

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Race leaders Groupama Sailing Team, skippered by Franck Cammas from France, are followed by a huge spectator fleet, after finishing first on leg 8, from Lisbon, Portugal, to Lorient, France, during the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12.

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Crowds of visitors come to see all of the attractions, in the Volvo Ocean Race village in Lorient, France.

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Volvo Ocean race Academy participants are given a tour of Team telefonica's Volvo Open 70.

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Volvo Ocean race Academy participants are given a tour of CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand.

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Team Sanya skipper Mike Sanderson making his winning crepe, as Volvo Ocean Race crew take part in the Lorient crepe making competition, in the Volvo Ocean Race village in Lorient, France

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Crowds look at the fleet of Volvo Open 70's, in the Volvo Ocean Race village in Lorient.

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The fleet leaving Lorient, France at the start of leg 9 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12.

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Camper, skippered by Chris Nicholson from Australia heading for Galway, Ireland.

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Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing's crew work to change sails whilst getting pounded by waves.

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Groupama Sailing Team, skippered by Franck Cammas from France followed by a huge spectator fleet, at the start of leg 9 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Lorient, France.

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Groupama, skippered by Franck Cammas from France, celebrate winning the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, after finishing leg 9 from Lorient, France to Galway, Ireland.

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Groupama's skipper Franck Cammas with crew celebrate winning the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, after securing second place on leg 9.

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CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand, skippered by Chris Nicholson from Australia, celebrate winning leg 9.

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Thousands of people in the Volvo Ocean Race village in Galway, Ireland.

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The fleet of Volvo Open 70's get ready to cross the start line, for the last time, for the Ireland In-Port Race, in Galway, Ireland.

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Puma Ocean Racing, skippered by Ken Read from the USA, celebrates winning the Ireland In-Port Race.

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Puma Ocean Racing competing in the Discover Ireland In-Port Race,

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Puma Ocean Racing, skippered by Ken Read from the USA, celebrates winning the Ireland In-Port Race.

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Bowmen Martin Krite and Brad Marsh spark flares as Groupama Sailing Team, arrives into the dock, for the final public prize giving, in Galway.

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Groupama Sailing Team first place overall in the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12.

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Groupama Sailing Team, skipper Franck Cammas, lifts the Volvo Ocean Race trophy, claiming first place overall in the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, at the final public prize giving, in Galway, Ireland.

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Snapshots from the Volvo Ocean Race

The most competitive fleet to ever contest the Volvo Ocean Race took on the 2011-2012 edition of the world’s toughest and longest ocean race – Volvo Ocean Race 2011-2012.

Read all about the Race on http://www.volvooceanrace.com/

Follow the blog ‘Volvo Group at Volvo Ocean Race’: http://www.volvogroupatvolvooceanrace.com/