Sailors were able to provide social media updates,[6][7] new male/female ratios were introduced,[8] Onboard Reporters rotated between teams, a new scoring system was used,[9] the yachts were upgraded with Hydro generators for back-up power[10] and all teams sailed the 2017 Fastnet Race.

[11] During Leg 7 of the race, John Fisher, 47, a British citizen who lived in Adelaide, was swept overboard from Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag and lost at sea 1400 miles west of Cape Horn.

Notes (134 sailing days for race winners and 10 In-port racing days): As opposed to the previous edition, scoring was based on a high-points system, with the winner of every leg scoring one bonus point (7+1 bonus point for a win, 6 for second, 5 for third, etc.).

The two Southern Ocean legs – from Cape Town to Melbourne, and Auckland to Itajaí, plus the North Atlantic leg near the end of the race, Newport to Cardiff – all scored double points.

A further bonus point was awarded for the team with the best total elapsed time overall in the race.