The ninth of 11 legs in the Volvo Ocean Race game will see thousands of virtual skippers sprint across the Atlantic from Newport, USA, to Cardiff in Wales.
The 3,300-mile stage is the last of the long legs, taking the fleets - both real and virtual - back to Europe for the first time since the race began in October 2017.
It’s also the last of the double points-scoring legs, so even more is at stake.
To date more than 173,000 players have taken part in the Volvo Ocean Race game, which follows the same course as the race proper.
Players also encounter real-time weather - so what the Volvo Ocean Race teams are encountering is exactly the same as what the virtual slippers do.
Leg 9 is a classic in ocean racing terms, which will see players follow the Great Circle Route high up into the North Atlantic looking to hook onto an easterly-moving depression - and hold onto it as long as possible.
For the Volvo Ocean Race teams it’ll get bitterly cold again, another reason to play the official game!
Leg 9 is the third to last leg of the Volvo Ocean Race and therefore vital to the overall result of the game - and it couldn’t be tighter at the top.
The game is scored on the best six legs, and so far it’s Swedish player Tessa94 that can claim that title.
But right behind him in second is Sideshow, the winner of the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race game, followed closely by Marcusbelgicus in third.
All three players have proven themselves titans of the Volvo Ocean Race game - and without doubt they’ll all be looking to win Leg 9.
Racing starts on Sunday May 20 and it’s not too late to join in - just go to www.volvooceanrace.com/game to sign up and experience the Leg 9 action!
