AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHT MONTHS

The Volvo Ocean Race kicks off Oct. 22 in Alicante, Spain. Seven Volvo Ocean 65s will sail a 45,000-nautical-mile course around the world — the longest in the history of the race. The teams will stop in Portugal, South Africa, Australia, Hong Kong, mainland China, New Zealand, Brazil, Rhode Island, Wales and Sweden. The finish is at The Hague in the Netherlands, where the boats are expected to arrive next June.