Add 7 landscape to the sea, one for each week day. 7 cities of 7 countries which are part of rating. Fix the landscape in one place that players can't touch either arrive. For example Sydney will be at north of the race, Valencia at west like NY, etc..
Add boats with spectators around the play zone, the boats are typical of each landscape, like folk boats.
All this together with the climate of each zone will be the ultimate inmersive feeling of a race.