Volvo Ocean Race: How to Become a (Virtual) Skipper

Ocean racing is tough. Disrupted sleep, time away from family and friends, a constant caffeine supply to keep you going, living in one set of clothes for 26 days straight... not to mention the serious potential for health risks.

All of this, without leaving home. Because I’m not talking about the actual Volvo Ocean Race—I’m talking about the Virtual Race.



Many of the 100,000+ boating fanatics who play the Virtual VOR have dreamed of the opportunity to take part in the actual race, but for most of us that’s never going to happen. The game gives us our chance. Here’s how it works:

1. Register and pick a boat
2. Race each leg “alongside” the VOR fleet
3. Steer, choose sails
4. Repeat step 3, 24/7, until you finish

You can adjust your course and choose which sails to use. The weather is updated every twelve hours, and getting to the finish requires regular monitoring—otherwise you may find yourself driving into some small island. Halfway through leg 1, I slept through the night; when I woke up, my boat was firmly lodged on the coast of Brazil.

You might (like me) find this very addictive. I started out casually, but soon found myself sneaking away from the dinner table or getting up in the middle of the night to tack or change course. While the real racers are getting out of their bunks to go get drenched on the foredeck, I only risk upsetting my better half or impacting my social life.

My boat's track mid-Atlantic