Volvo Ocean Race: Life at the Extreme - The Series Season 1: Episode Guide & Ratings

The very first episode of our weekly show - Life at the Extreme - your best way to join the adventure and share the exhilarating and demanding experience of competitive sailing, around the world!

For the seven sailing teams competing in the Volvo Ocean Race, it is last minute preparation and time to say goodbye to their family. In 24 hours they will start the toughest sailing race on the planet.

That’s it. The seven teams are leaving Alicante, Spain for the first leg of their round the world race. And first, they have to go through the capricious Mediterranean sea with its thunderstorms and lack of wind. The perfect start for the toughest race on the planet.

Leaving the safer Mediterranean sea behind, the teams are sailing along the African coast discovering the perils of a not so off-shore racing. It’s also time for the crew to realise that the lack of winds may mean that they are in a longer leg than planned.

This week it's all about decision, competition, and tradition. The teams need to make the right decision as they approach the Cape Verde Island which will determine their entry into the dreaded Doldrums. For the new members of the crews having their first equator crossing, it's time to atone for their sin and meet King Neptune.

The fleet is ready to enter a place that most sailors have dreamt about but very few have experienced first hand: The Roaring 40's. Ian Walker's lead is now being challenged constantly by the rest of the teams, so the smallest mistake can change everything.

n this week's episode, the battle for first place is on between Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing and Dongfeng Race Team. As the teams arrive in Cape Town, they can finally enjoy the pleasures of dry land, and at the back of the fleet, the final duel between MAPFRE and Team SCA.

After time to reflect in Cape Town the count down to race day is on. As the crews prepare once again to face the harsh conditions of the Southern Ocean, some of the teams are ringing the changes more drastically than others. The race out of Africa promises to be a tricky one, the stakes are as high as the winds and no one knows quite what to expect…

t’s only the beginning of the leg and already big decisions are needed. For the teams picking the right moment to gybe north into the Indian Ocean is crucial. For Alvimedica, it’s also time to touch base with some of their younger fans, while some of the other teams are using the light wind patch to prepare and repair their rigs for what’s to come.

This week, the fleet experiences a tropical storm, some crews celebrate Thanksgiving while others are battling centimeter by centimeter to keep their lead. And it’s every sailor’s nightmare when Team Vestas Wind hits rock bottom and has to send out a Mayday call….

This week Team Vestas Wind are left fighting the odds: after being shipwrecked in the Indian Ocean, they need to organise their lives. The gods of the sea are back to collect their tribute as some of the sailors cross the equator for the first time. And some tough little invaders are taking control of Team Alvimedica's rig overnight.

This week, the leaders of the fleet are battling with some heavy clouds, onboard Team SCA it’s not just the boat that needs some maintenance. And finally Team Vestas Wind are getting back to main land and are reflecting on what really happen to them…

This week, the second leg is heading towards its finale with Team Brunel and Dongfeng Race Team battling for first place in Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile, the Arabian sea is full of surprises, Team SCA gets a visit from the local wildlife and Team Alvimedica lights up like a Christmas tree with bioluminescence.

This week, the rest of the fleet has finally arrived in Abu Dhabi. It’s time for the crews to spend some time with their family while The Boatyard teams work around the clock to get the boats ready again for Leg 3. Having time on their hands, it’s also the right moment for some of the sailors to reflect on the race so far.

This week, the sailors get time to explore the attractions outside of Abu Dhabi city, there are crew changes afoot onboard some of the boats, and it’s time to leave shore and set sail at the start of leg 3 and the long trip to Sanya.

This week, the fleet is battling their way out of the Arabian sea heading towards Sri Lanka waters, but the lack of winds is not making things easy. Meanwhile Team Vestas Wind are finally starting their rescue mission, if they can save the boat, there is a chance they can re-enter the race!

This week, the fleet is dealing with a serious lack of wind, a real problem when racing around the world. We meet the people behind the storytelling and follow the onboard reporters at work. We also join young sailor Nicolai Sehested back at home as he reflects on his team’s crash. Meanwhile, Team Vestas Wind shore crew are finally getting the boat off the reef, grasping their last chance to re-enter the race...

This week, the fleet is sailing through one of the most congested waterways in the world, dodging fishing boats, tankers and many other hazards. The teams also unfortunately witness the level of pollution surrounding them as they pass Singapore waters. Then the six boats finally exit close to each other in the South China Sea to sprint to their final destination...

This week, the teams arrive in Sanya. It’s a homecoming for the Franco-Chinese team - the underdog of the fleet is becoming its leader. The boatyard’s maintenance goes to plan, Team Alvimedica and Team SCA take some of their time off to train and push themselves even further.

This week we catch up with Team SCA’s Sophie as she continues her recovery from injury, Team Brunel take a Kung Fu lesson, and the crews experience difficult sailing conditions as they return to sea for the start of Leg 4.

This week, the fleet is battling across the South China Sea, leaving the sailors wet and exhausted. Two teams take a gamble heading north, hoping for stronger winds and a tactical gain. Meanwhile, Team Vestas Wind are finally getting their boat on its way to Europe to start the repairs.

This week, the fleet is getting closer together again. Unfortunately, Team Brunel and Team SCA’s gamble didn’t pay off. Frustration is high among the teams as the technical problems are getting more and more recurrent. And with illness and exhaustion taking over most crews, the sailors are slowly fighting their way to cross the finish line.

This week, it’s birthday bonanza with Dongfeng Race Team and Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing skippers celebrating getting older at sea. Team Brunel are trying to get to terms with losing the lead, while Team SCA bowman Sophie is still recovering from her back injury. And it’s a Mexican standoff at the finish line with three teams fighting for the first place on the podium.

This week, Team SCA bowman Sophie finds out if she makes the team for Leg 5. Previous leg winners MAPFRE enjoy a friendly fishing competition while Dongfeng Race Team is off scuba diving. In the race village, The Boatyard crew is in full maintenance mode as the guys get the boats ready for the harsh Leg 5 ahead.

This week, with Cyclone Pam bearing down on New Zealand, Race Management must make a difficult decision: whether or not to postpone the start of Leg 5. Meanwhile, we visit Team Vestas Wind’s Peter Wibroe who has returned to his PhD project in Cophenaghen, Denmark. And finally, the fleet is heading into the most isolated part of the planet: the Southern Ocean.

This week, the teams' new recruits get a baptism of fire in the tough Southern Ocean. The fleet takes part in a science project to learn more about this wild part of the world and some of the teams are shaken by the ruthless force of a "Chinese Gybe". With thousands of miles to go, the Southern Ocean still has plenty in store for the crews…​

This week, the sailors endure the cold and humidity of the tough Southern Ocean. The fleet conveys together again as the boats meet to race alongside the compulsory ice gate. And pushing the boat too hard finally comes at a high price for one of the teams… with the legendary Cape Horn looming around the corner all hands are on deck to push​ even quicker towards the finish line.

This week, after 2 near misses finally Ryan Houston and Gerd-Jan Poortman round the legendary Cape Horn with the fleet pushing their boats even more and more. And for Dongfeng Race Team it's time for some hard decisions, as they are trying to repair their mast in Ushuaia. Meanwhile Brazil is going nuts as the Itajaí Race Village opens.

This week, Dongfeng Race Team are fighting against the clock to bring their boat and new mast to the Race Village in Itajaí to start their repairs, while the rest of the teams are fighting for podium places. For Nick Bice and his team at the boatyard, it’s crunch time as they have to fix and service the 6 boats in a limited time. Everything needs to be ready for leg 6.

This week, the Race Village in Itajaí, Brazil is in full swing! Abu Dhabi sailor Adil is back with his teammates on an early morning flight. After a mad week for the boatyard its finally time to say goodbye again, for the 6th leg of the race. And as if bad luck was following them, Dongfeng Race Team’s sailors are already fighting the odds with a serious water problem.

This week, Leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race is well underway. Dongfeng Race Team needs to fix its water shortage problem, Team Vestas Wind is fighting the odds to get its boat back in the race in Lisbon, and Team Alvimedica rolls the dice to try and get ahead of the fleet in a bold move….

On Leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean Race, the fleet crosses the equator again, this time heading North. Newport USA is their destination, home port of Team Alvimedica, where friends and family are waiting keenly. The sailors are within sight of each other as they slide up America’s Eastern Seaboard in light winds, and just 3 minutes and 25 seconds separate the first two finishers after 6,000 miles…

Team SCA receive a warm magenta flag waving welcome in Newport, USA. The Boatyard crew can now spring into action to maintain boats and sails, and American race fans young and old get a chance to visit the boats and meet the sailors. Since we’re in the US, we visit Farr Yacht Design, the naval architects who drew the lines of the one-design Volvo Ocean 65s.

During the stop-over in Newport, USA, race chief Knut Frostad looks to the next edition of the Volvo Ocean Race, while US sailor Kenny Read makes a splash off Team Brunel on the Atlantic leg start. Soon the boats become embroiled in shipping lane incidents, and a near collision in the fog in the pitch black of night…

Leg 7 of 9 of the Volvo Ocean Race is the final big ocean blast – 3,000 nautical miles across the Atlantic. Skirting underneath any floating icebergs in Titanic territory up north, the fleet then has to negotiate a huge windless hole mid-Atlantic – the Azores High. Some do well, some don’t. Meanwhile, we catch up with Team Brunel crewman Gerd-Jan Poortman in Holland, and Team Vestas Wind hits the road for Lisbon.

Team Alvimedica sneak past two boats in the approach to Lisbon, where finally, after four months of rebuilding, Team Vestas Wind rejoins the fleet after their ship wrecking off Mauritius. Annie Lush of Team SCA reflects on her experience of the past eight months. The International Jury hand out penalties for shipping lane incidents. And the top three skippers on the leaderboard analyze the big picture for the final two legs.

Leg 8 of 9 of the Volvo Round the World Race is the shortest yet, a comparative sprint of four days from Lisbon, Portugal, to Lorient, France. But the podium pressure means almost no sleep for the crews, plus they have some nasty weather to deal with in the treacherous Bay of Biscay. Coming into Lorient though, this leg is notable for some glorious results…

Leg 9 of the Volvo Ocean Race takes the fleet via a pit stop in The Netherlands. Leaving Lorient in France, the seven crews have to negotiate a tidal race - overfalls from the vast amount of water swooshing in and out of the English Channel – all against them at the time. Then they split to work their way around the Dover shipping channel, or Traffic Separation Scheme, which they cannot enter. Dongfeng Race Team, Team Brunel and MAPFRE take the northern gambit…

The Volvo Ocean Racers end their nine month round the world marathon crossing the finish line in Gothenburg, Sweden. They’ve had a maze of tricky shipping lanes to dodge, but finally Team Alvimedica win their first leg of the race. For Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, it’s the double, winning both the in port and overall oceanic series, with Team Brunel second overall, and Dongfeng Race Team third. The skippers share their final thoughts on the closest edition yet. That’s our series finished, thanks for watching!