Sailing-Volvo Ocean Race completes seven-strong fleet

COPENHAGEN, Aug 12 (Reuters) - The seventh and final boat for the Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 was unveiled on Tuesday as Team Vestas Wind skippered by Australian Chris Nicholson, who has a point to prove but precious little time to prepare. Six-time world champion Nicholson has contested professional offshore sailing's most prestigious event five previous times without success. He is leaving it late this time - the race begins in Alicante, Spain on Oct. 4 before going on to visit 10 more points in a near 40,000-nautical mile voyage around the world, finishing in Gothenburg on June 27, 2015. Normally, challengers prepare for more than a year for the nine-month challenge; 45-year-old Nicholson has seven weeks. "I'm working hard confirming my crew. This is no time to bring in newcomers - I need battle-hardened, experienced guys who know what it takes to succeed in the Volvo Ocean Race and can hit the ground running," he told Reuters. Team Vestas Wind, backed by a Danish company that makes wind turbines, will take on teams from Abu Dhabi, Sweden, China, the Netherlands, Spain and a joint U.S./Turkey set-up. (Editing by Patrick Johnston)