On Nov. 7, Team Alvimedica steamed into Cape Town, South Africa in fifth place after Leg 1 of the Volvo Ocean Race, an impressive start for a relatively young, inexperienced team sailing in the grueling race for the first time.

But reality soon set in.

"It was really a feeling of accomplishment, and we felt like this is something we can actually do," Bristol native Charlie Enright said of the team he leads. "Then came the second leg."

After a relatively smooth sail over more than 6,000 nautical miles from Spain in Leg 1, the Alvimedica crew quickly learned the reality and dangers of sailing in the open ocean around the world. En route to the United Arab Emirates through shark — and pirate —infested waters, a cyclone formed, forcing the race teams off course into territory they had not previously studied. Unfamiliar with the area, competitor Vestas Wind ran aground on a reef in the Indian Ocean. The boat was crippled and the crew was stranded. The Alvimedica crew, being closest, abandoned the race to rush to their opponents' aid, helping rescue the crew before resuming the race.

"It was a very, very intense night as we sat listening to the boat break up," Navigator Will Oxley said. "We were lucky enough to be able to be there and offer some assistance. It was a night that I won't forget."

"It was the most memorable night of the race so far, for all the wrong reasons," Mr. Enright added.

It was just one of the many tales from the high seas Mr. Enright and Mr. Oxley relayed during a presentation at the Herreshoff Marine Museum Monday evening. More than 200 guests packed a tent across from the museum to greet the sailors, who are in town during a stopover in Newport after the sixth leg of the race around the world.

Beginning in Spain, the crew has sailed through the UAE, China, New Zealand and Brazil before landing in Newport last week.

For Mr. Enright's homecoming into Rhode Island, Alvimedica unfortunately tied its worst finish, crawling into Newport in the middle of a windless night in fifth place. But that didn't dampen the late-night homecoming the team received.

"It's not exactly the finish (into Newport) we scripted, but you can't choose your good legs," Mr. Enright said. "The local support was really astounding."

The previous leg was the team's most satisfying, Mr. Oxley said. Sailing from New Zealand to Brazil through the southern ocean — some of the most daunting water in the world for any ship crew — Alvimedica achieved its greatest success.

"The most satisfying moment for me is the level of seamanship of the crew during that leg," Mr. Oxley said. "When you're sailing 30-35 naughts, you're quite on the edge. We were the fastest and best team in the southern ocean."

But it didn't come without some bumps and bruises. The team was exposed to cold temperatures and high winds and big waves — some as large as a double-decker bus — that threw the team members around the boat, and did in another of their competitors. The Dong Feng crew snapped its mast during the leg, disabling the boat.

"Exactly how hard to push in a big decision in the southern ocean," Mr, Enright said. "You can put the pedal to the metal, but there can be repercussions."

It was one of the many thrilling adventures the crew has encountered, on sea and on land, an experience that includes meeting South African social rights leader Desmond Tutu. "He wished us well and for the wind to be at our backs, which isn't actually good," Mr. Enright said, eliciting laughter. "He doesn't know a lot about sailing."

So far, the crew has traveled 40,000 miles through two-thirds of the race, achieving a top boat speed of 36 naughts. With three legs left, Team Alvimedica is in striking distance of the leaders, tied for fourth place. The crew is back at work preparing for the seventh leg of the race across the Atlantic Ocean to Lisbon, Portugal, which begins on May 17.

Spectators can follow the Alvimedica crew and all the racing teams in real time at volvooceanrace.com, where they can download an app to catch all the action.