"Hauling the Mail" - The Volvo Ocean Race Rocks the Southern Ocean [VIDEO]

The Southern Ocean is the most challenging place on earth to sail in and for the past quarter century, incredible video gathered from Volvo Ocean and past Whitbread Races through the Roaring 40s and Furious 50s have been the inspiration for millions of sailors, including me.

CAMPER’s skipper Chris Nicholson gives us a unique insight to what it is really like to drive one of these incredible Volvo 70s through big seas and winds in excess of 30 knots, check out the footage from multiple cameras and some awesome Gro Pro footage from Nico.

puma rome kirby volvo ocean race — Rome Kirby hangs on from the back of the boat while keeping his weight aft. PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG during leg 5 of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12, from Auckland, New Zealand to Itajai, Brazil. Image (c) Amory Ross/PUMA Ocean Racing/Volvo Ocean Race

Here’s today’s weather forecast for the fleet:

FRIDAY (23-MAR-2012)

Between 47S/42S and 175W/165W
WIND: NW 15-20 knots backing with distance east to W 15-20 knots easing and backing WNW 10-15 knots, building and backing with distance east to W 15-20 knots.
SEA: 2-4m
WEATHER: Mostly cloudy with chance of showers.

Between 45S/40S and 165W/155W

WIND: W 15-20 knots backing to WSW 10-15 knots gusting 20 knots.
SEA: 2-4m
WEATHER: Mostly cloudy with chance of showers in south.

Between 50S/45S and 165W/155W

WIND: SSW 15-20 knots becoming light and variable then shifting abruptly and building to N 20-25 knots then backing and easing to W 10-15 knots.
SEA: 2-4m
WEATHER: Mostly cloudy with showers at front.

Between 50S/45S and 155W/145W

GALE FORCE LIKELY
WIND: SW 30-40 knots gusting 45 knots easing and backing to S 15-20 knots.
SEA: 4-7m
WEATHER: Partly cloudy.

Between 45S/40S and 155W/145W

GALE FORCE POSSIBLE in southeast
WIND: SW 25-35 knots gusting 40 knots backing and easing to WSW 20-25 knots in the east and WSW 10-15 knots in the west.
SEA: 3-5m
WEATHER: Increasing cloudiness through period with chance of showers in southwest later in the period.

Between 49S/44S and 145W/135W

GALE FORCE LIKELY / POSSIBLE STORM FORCE
WIND: WSW 30-40 knots gusting 45 knots backing to SW 30-40 knots gusting 45 knots.
SEA: 4-7m
WEATHER: Partly cloudy.

Between 49S/44S and 135W/125W

GALE FORCE LIKELY
WIND: WSW 25-35 knots building and veering with distance east to NNW 30-40 knots gusting 45 knots backing with front to W 25-35 knots gusting 40 knots by end of period.
SEA: 4-7m
WEATHER: Decreasing cloudiness through the period with chance of showers early.

Between 50S/45S and 125W/115W

GALE FORCE LIKELY
WIND: NW 25-30 knots gusting 35 knots veering and building to N 30-40 knots gusting 45 knots then backing and easing sharply to WNW 20-30 knots gusting 35 knots by end of period.
SEA: 4-7m
WEATHER: Mostly cloudy with showers at front.