Volvo Ocean Race bears down on China through Southeast Asian waters – in pictures

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  Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing skipper Ian Walker warns his crew to stay down to avoid fishing nets in the South China Sea on Saturday. Matt Knighton / Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing / Volvo Ocean Race / January 24, 2015

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  A view of Vietnamese fishing boats from aboard Team Alvimedica's boat on Sunday during the third leg of the Volvo Ocean Race. Amory Ross / Team Alvimedica / Volvo Ocean Race / January 25, 2015

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  A black and white portrait shot of Team Brunel's Gerd-Jan Poortman during the third leg of the Volvo Ocean Race on Saturday off the coast of Vietnam. Stefan Coppers / Team Brunel / Volvo Ocean Race / January 24, 2015

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  Team SCA navigate through the Singapore Straits on Thursday with a cargo boat behind them in view. Corinna Halloran / Team SCA / Volvo Ocean Race / January 22, 2015

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  Dongfeng Race Team sail off the Vietnam coast at sunset on Saturday during the third leg of the Volvo Ocean Race to their home port in Sanya, China. Sam Greenfield / Dongfeng Race Team / Volvo Ocean Race / January 24, 2015

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  A nighttime view of a fishing boat in the South China Sea from aboard Team Alvimedica's boat on Saturday during Leg 3 of the Volvo Ocean Race. Amory Ross / Team Alvimedica / Volvo Ocean Race / January 24, 2015

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  Rafael Trujillo of Team Mapfre shown on Friday as the boat sails during the third leg of the Volvo Ocean Race to Sanya, China. Francisco Vignale / Mapfre / Volvo Ocean Race / January 23, 2015

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  Ying Kit Cheng videochats with his family from aboard the Dongfeng Race Team boat on Saturday as Dongfeng sail to their home port of Sanya, China during the third leg of the Volvo Ocean Race. Sam Greenfield / Dongfeng Race Team / Volvo Ocean Race / January 24, 2015

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  Alberto Bolzan of Team Alvimedica shown as the boat sails off the coast of Vietnam through fishing grounds on Sunday during Leg 3 of the Volvo Ocean Race. Amory Ross / Team Alvimedica / Volvo Ocean Race / January 25, 2015

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  Justin Slattery of Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing inspects a broken halyard lock at night during the Volvo Ocean Race's third leg on Friday. Matt Knighton / Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing / Volvo Ocean Race / January 23, 2015

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  Team SCA sail on Saturday to Sanya, China during the third leg of the Volvo Ocean Race. Corinna Halloran / Team SCA / Volvo Ocean Race / January 24, 2015

Images from the stretch run of the Volvo Ocean Race's third leg – from Abu Dhabi to Sanya, China – over the last few days as the fleet reached within 500 nautical miles of their destination. Click the arrows above to scroll through the photos.

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