Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, was the shining star as it became the first Arabian team to win a leg in the gruelling round-the-world sailing odyssey, after a highly tense Leg 7 battle that went right down to the wire.

Widely regarded as one of the blue ribbon leg of this arduous 3,500 nautical miles Trans-Atlantic crossing from the USA to Western Europe, 2012 has been one of the most thrilling in the 39-year race history. The six-strong fleet exchanged blows from the very offset to the closing stages. Marlow Ropes again supported the team.