The Volvo Ocean Race is a race of endurance, danger and hardship it is the most grueling challenge on the planet! It attracts world class sailors that must be emotionally and physically fit to battle gales, the hostility of the Southern Ocean, tropical cyclones and Antarctic storms.

Known as the 'Everest of Sailing' the Volvo Ocean Race covers 72,000 Kilometers and takes nine months to circumnavigate the globe. The race commences on October 4th 2014 and with modern technology you can be there every step of the way.

Gutsy Female Sailors take up the Challenge:

They say; who are 'they'... We are the stereotypical 'weaker sex'... Can female sailors handle this race? We are talking about one of the toughest yacht races on the planet!

This has been a male domain with physically strong experienced sailors since it began in 1973; now in 2014-15 we have a team of gutsy female sailors taking on the veterans of the Volvo Ocean Race.

These racing yachts are maned by eight male sailors and one multimedia reporter on the standard teams. The all-female team are allowed 11 sailors and a multimedia reporter.

A Swedish veteran sailor said, "People say it's the toughest race there is in the world but it's much more than that. Its big waves, icebergs, and its incredible team spirit.
You want to win but of course you have bad days and sometimes you hate it. This race is incredibly physical. The stronger you are the better it is... You get an advantage over the others if you are stronger for sure!"

Skipper Sam Davis is a renowned single hander competing in two Vendee Globe challenges believes this is the right time for an all-female crew. She says, "I really believe we have the opportunity to achieve some amazing results in the next race!"

All Female Team Not Ordinary Women:

These are no ordinary women they are used to living life at the extreme some of the crew are famous ocean racers in their own right like Dee Caffari others former Olympic competitors and international world champions.

The all-female team have trained very hard to build up their strength as three time race winner Brad Jackson said, "It's very physical and it's definitely become a lot more physical over the years... the sails are bigger, the boats are going faster... It's just harder work, so the bigger the guys the better."

Advances in technology have not made it less of a challenge; yes they have better communication, equipment and weather data fed to the yachts. They have freeze- dried food with calculated calorie intake and high tech foul weather gear and off shore medical connections just to name a few improvements. But none of this can take away from the hostile and potentially lethal environment they sail in where some have lost their lives.
These gutsy females are throwing any stereotypes overboard they are in it to win, but whatever the outcome no one can deny that gender should not come into it, we'll be cheering them on in the Volvo Ocean Race.