The world of sailboat racing is one of thrills, adventures and near-death, as well as fatal, experiences. But the newest challenge to hit the waves has stripped the concept of sailboat racing to its most brutal and bare essentials. Known, quite simply, as 'The Race', it pitted crews of the world's most elite and courageous sailors against each other in a crewed round-the-world sailboat race regarded by many as the most dangerous and challenging sailing competition in history. The Race had only one real rule: fastest boat around the world wins. Given its utter lack of restrictions on boat design, speed, course and the unique dangers that the crew face made this the most dangerous boat race in history. The Race was a battle of technology, daring and grit and a supreme test of wills. On 30 December 2000, 6 teams of highly experienced sailors, whittled down from the thousands of applicants, left Barcelona and sailed through the Strait of Gibraltar for the gruelling challenge, which required flat-out sailing, much of it through the icy wastes of the Southern Ocean and quite literally passed through the most isolated spot on earth, deep in the Pacific. Of these 6 teams just 3 were to make it through the hazardous seas, past the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn to the finishing post. In THE RACE, journalist Tim Zimmermann chronicles this amazing test of skill and endurance.