Daily Digest - Thursday 22 March

“The most important thing the crew can do to keep safe is to get as much rest as they can…”

Just when you thought the racing couldn’t get any closer Xabi Fernandez explains the importance of being alert as this video shows a frantic scramble onboard MAPFRE as they have a very close midnight cross with Team SHK/Scallywag and Blair Tuke admits to a mistake that almost cost the team a sail. 

Every now and again we get sent a picture from one of the Onboard Reporters that is so good we just can’t stop staring. Today is one of those days - check out this unbelievable image of Rob Greenhalgh helming onboard MAPFRE from Onboard Reporter Ugo Fonolla

The Volvo Ocean Race Experts have team AkzoNobel in first place as night falls across Europe. Don’t forget to follow @RaceExperts on Twitter for all the latest updates and geeky facts about the race course

Tracker Update: @teamAkzoNobel continue to gain on the fleet behind, whilst @desafioMAPFRE establish 2nd in the ranking ahead of @Vestas11thHour #watchlog pic.twitter.com/NhFwQlOagV

— Race Experts (@RaceExperts) March 22, 2018

With seven cameras covering all angles of life onboard a Volvo Ocean 65, Dongfeng Race Team show us how it’s done with some epic Mast Cam footage compiled by Onboard Reporter Martin Kerezore

Another highlight from Dongfeng Race Team is this picture of kiwi Daryl Wislang’s hands showing the occupational hazards of being an offshore sailor

If you’re new to the race and want to have a better understanding of this Southern Ocean leg, here’s a brilliant in-depth article about how the teams will navigate the Southern Ocean… and more importantly, what’s at stake

And finally, did you know that we have a section on our websites dedicated to emails to Race HQ from the Skippers and Navigators? Check it out as Bouwe Bekking tells us about the sail damage Team Brunel suffered

Don't forget to head to raw.volvooceanrace.com for more epic content in real time from the Southern Ocean.