Life in the doldrums slows down the Volvo Ocean Race pace – in pictures

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  Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing's Daryl Wislang, near, gets in a yawn during the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race, as ADOR's Azzam sails from Alicante towards Brazil and then on to South Africa. Matt Knighton / Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing / Volvo Ocean Race / October 21, 2014

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  Team Alvimedica sailor Mark Towhill relaxes during some downtime in the doldrums, a section of the Atlantic notorious in sailing for its lack of wind. Amory Ross / Team Alvimedica / Volvo Ocean Race / October 21, 2014

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  The Team Vestas Wind boat sails through the doldrums of the Atlantic during the first leg of the 2014/15 Volvo Ocean Race. Brian Carlin / Team Vestas Wind / Volvo Ocean Race / October 21, 2014

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  A view of the sun setting over the Atlantic from the Team Vestas Wind boat during Day 10 of the first leg of the 2014/15 Volvo Ocean Race. Brian Carlin / Team Vestas Wind / Volvo Ocean Race / October 21, 2014

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  Antonio Cuevas-Mons of Team Mapfre relaxes in the calm seas of the Atlantic Ocean's doldrums during the first leg of the 2014/15 Volvo Ocean Race. Francisco Vignale / Mapfre / Volvo Ocean Race / October 21, 2014

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  Abby Ehler of Team SCA watches through binoculars out at a rival yacht during the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race, in the middle of the Atlantic. Corinna Halloran / Team SCA / Volvo Ocean Race / October 21, 2014

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  Jiru Yang of Donfgeng Race Team, and behind him Kevin Escoffier, take in a moment of ease as the boat drifts through the gust-less doldrums of the Atlantic. Yann Riou / Dongfeng Race Team / Volvo Ocean Race / October 21, 2014

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  Mark Towill of Team Alvimedica gazes out onto the sea as he tries to navigate the boat through the challenging waters of the doldrums in the Atlantic during the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race. Amory Ross / Team Alvimedica / Volvo Ocean Race / October 21, 2014

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  Team Vestas Wind sailors Chris Nicholson and Peter Popp Wibroe take in the sun during a calm day of sailing through the doldrums of the Atlantic during the Volvo Ocean Race. Brian Carlin / Team Vestas Wind / Volvo Ocean Race / October 20, 2014

Images from the fleet of Volvo Ocean Race yachts throughout this week as they drifted through the wind-starved doldrums of the Atlantic Ocean as they steer toward Brazil during the first leg on their way to Cape Town.