Legs and Crew Structure

The Ocean Race – formerly known as the Volvo Ocean Race – is not a single passage but a leg-based round-the-world race in which professional teams complete nonstop offshore legs and short in-port races over many months. Anyone who wants to understand the race or orient themselves as a sailor must master two levels: the leg format with scoring and stopovers, and the crew structure with roles, watch system and physical strain. Both distinguish The Ocean Race fundamentally from the single-handed Vendée Globe and from classic offshore and long-distance regattas with handicap scoring.

The Leg Format at a Glance

The Ocean Race follows the model of a round-the-world regatta with port stopovers: between host cities, teams sail nonstop over thousands of nautical miles. Each completed leg counts as elapsed time in the overall standings – unlike Olympic fleet racing, there is no discard. In addition, in-port races can bring bonus points or time credits, depending on the rules of each edition.

Typical Leg Cycle The Ocean Race

Offshore Legs: The Heart of the Race

An offshore leg is a nonstop passage between two designated ports. Typical routes cross the Atlantic, the Southern Ocean (often referred to as the "Southern Ocean leg"), the Pacific and the Indian Ocean back to the finish. Duration varies considerably:

1. Short legs (e.g. European coastal transfers): 3–7 days.
2. Transatlantic legs: 7–14 days depending on route and weather.
3. Southern Ocean legs: up to 20–25 days nonstop in extreme cold, icebergs and storm fronts.
4. Pacific and Indian Ocean legs: 10–18 days, often with doldrums passages and monsoon influences.

What matters is routing: teams use GRIB weather data, polars and routing software to make optimal use of weather windows and currents. Wrong decisions cost hours or days – and thus directly affect positions in the overall standings. More on the strategic level under Routing and Weather Windows.

In-Port Races and Stopovers

After each offshore leg comes a stopover in a host city – typically 7 to 14 days. During this phase:

• repairs, rigging checks and equipment changes take place;
• crews complete media appointments, fan events and sponsor obligations;
• sailors recover physically and mentally before the next leg.

Shortly before the restart of the next offshore leg, teams usually sail an in-port race – a 30- to 60-minute fleet race in the harbour basin. These races test boat handling under pressure and provide spectators with spectacular close-up action. Points or time credits from in-port races can make the difference in a tight overall standing.

Crew Structure: VO65 Era vs. IMOCA Era

The Ocean Race underwent a fundamental change in crew size and boat class. In the VO65 era (2014–2018), up to eight people sailed on identical one-design yachts. Since the 2022–2023 edition, IMOCA 60 boats have started with only four sailors per yacht – an approach to the single-handed world, but still in team format.

VO65 Era: Eight People, Clear Specialisation

On Volvo Ocean 65 yachts, the division of labour was highly specialised. Typical roles:

• Skipper / race director on board – final tactical decisions, crew leadership, safety.
• Navigator – routing, weather analysis, polars, communication with shore team.
• Helmsman / driver – steering in all conditions, often rotating.
• Trimmer (mainsail, headsails, spinnaker) – sail optimisation, manoeuvre coordination.
• Grinder / pit – winch work, mast manoeuvres, spinnaker sets and drops.
• Media crew member / onboard reporter (OBR) – dedicated media role in earlier editions.
• Bowman – work on the bow, jib changes, line handling forward.

With eight people, a classic watch system was possible: four hours on watch, four hours off – with full staffing of all sailing positions. The physical strain from grinding (cranking the winches) was extreme; professional grinders trained for months for full-load spinnaker sets in storms.

IMOCA Era: Four Sailors, Maximum Flexibility

Since 2022–2023, four people have sailed on IMOCA 60 yachts. Each crew member takes on multiple roles simultaneously:

1. Skipper – overall responsibility, steering, tactical decisions.
2. Co-skipper / trimmer – sail handling, backup steering, manoeuvres.
3. Navigator – routing, weather, instruments, often also winch work.
4. All-rounder / media – pit, bow, media, maintenance, sleep management.

The reduced team requires shorter watch cycles (often three hours instead of four), less sleep per person and significantly higher mental strain. IMOCA boats are faster and more technical – repairs to foils, hydraulics and rigging must be carried out by the crew themselves, without a dedicated mechanic on board.

More on the fundamental roles in regatta sailing under Crew Roles and Specialisations.

Watch System and Shift Schedule on Board

On an offshore leg of two or three weeks, sleep management is vital for survival – not only for performance but also for safety. The Ocean Race crews work with fixed watch systems:

Classic Four-Hour System (VO65)

• Watch A and Watch B – four people each.
• Rotation: 4 hours active, 4 hours off (eating, sleeping, maintenance).
• During manoeuvres or storms: all hands on deck – entire crew awake.

Three-Hour System (IMOCA)

• Only four people – therefore shorter shifts (3 h on watch, 3 h off).
• Each person steers, trims and navigates in the shift rhythm.
• Less sleep per 24-hour cycle – mental exhaustion is a central risk.

Watch Rotation on Board

Detailed information on night sailing and the watch system under Night Sailing and Watch System.

Shore Team and Crew Management

The Ocean Race is not purely an onboard race. Each team maintains a shore team on land:

• Routing cell – analyses weather models, suggests course options.
• Technical team – coordinates repairs during stopovers, supplies spare parts.
• Performance analysts – evaluate polars, GPS data and sail configurations.
• Media and PR team – organises press, social media, fan events.

Communication between boat and land is regulated: in earlier editions constant radio contact was allowed; today stricter rules apply to preserve sporting fairness. The skipper makes the final decision – the shore team provides data, not orders.

More on long-term crew management under Long-Distance Crew Management.

Physical and Mental Requirements

A complete The Ocean Race edition lasts 6 to 9 months – depending on boat class and route. Crew members must:

• bring endurance and strength for grinding, steering and winching over days.
• be able to cope with seasickness and sleep deprivation over weeks.
• withstand cold and heat in alternation (Southern Ocean vs. doldrums).
• resolve team conflicts constructively in cramped quarters.

Checklist: Understanding Legs and Crew

• Be able to distinguish offshore leg vs. in-port race vs. stopover
• Know elapsed-time scoring (no discard)
• Name the difference VO65 (7–8 crew) vs. IMOCA (4 crew)
• Understand watch system (4 h vs. 3 h) and sleep management
• Assign roles: skipper, navigator, trimmer, grinder/pit
• Know the importance of the shore team for routing and technical support
• Identify the Southern Ocean leg as the decisive phase

Typical Legs of an Edition (Example 2022–2023)

The exact route varies by edition but follows a recurring pattern:

1. Leg 1 – Start in Europe (e.g. Alicante), Atlantic crossing towards Cape Verde or South America.
2. Leg 2 – Transatlantic or Cape Horn rounding, often first Southern Ocean contact.
3. Leg 3 – Southern Ocean passage – often the longest and toughest leg.
4. Leg 4 – Pacific crossing, doldrums, tropical conditions.
5. Leg 5 – Indian Ocean, monsoon influences, tight routing decisions.
6. Leg 6 – Return to Europe or grand finale in the destination port.

Decision Chain Skipper on Board

Conclusion

Leg format and crew structure make The Ocean Race a unique competition: nonstop passages over weeks alternate with port stopovers and in-port races, while the crew works in watch systems and roles vary greatly depending on boat class. The transition from VO65 to IMOCA has made the race faster, more technical and more physically demanding – with a smaller team at the same time. Anyone following The Ocean Race or orienting themselves professionally should keep both dimensions in view – routing on the legs and leadership on board – equally.

Related Topics

• Volvo Ocean Race and The Ocean Race
• Offshore and Long-Distance Regattas
• Vendée Globe
• Night Sailing and Watch System
• Long-Distance Crew Management

Last updated: July 4, 2026