Hours after China's Dongfeng Race Team team sustained a staggering setback when its boat's mast broke in the remote Southern Ocean, the youngest crew in the Volvo Ocean Race experienced one of sailing's rarest and toughest feats when it rounded Cape Horn at the bottom of South America.

Team Alvimedica, led by American skipper Charlie Enright, rounded the fabled landmark on Monday while at the front of the fleet, just 15 minutes ahead of race co-leader Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing.

The 30-year-old Enright of Bristol, Rhode Island, said the sailors celebrated by smoking cigars and taking photos with the cape in the background.