Sailing: Volvo Ocean Race fleet to battle in Auckland for in-port race

The Volvo Ocean Race fleet will go head to head in the Auckland in-port race on Saturday. Photo: Pedro Martinez/Volvo Ocean Race

The Volvo Ocean Race's in-port race might not count to the immediate standings, but don't expect the fleet to be any less motivated.

Sailing fans will get the chance to watch the fleet in action on Auckland's Waitemata Harbour on Saturday, as they look to get back into race mode ahead of the seventh leg.

While points gained the in-port series don't make a difference to the overall standings, they come in to play if there is a tie breaker.

It may seem like little to provide motivation, but Vestas 11th Hour Racing's Tony Mutter explained just how vital it can be.

Not long to go now with the 65's hitting the water before the all important In-Port Race this Saturday at 2pm! If you not out on the water, get to the Race Village to see the action LIVE on the big screen at the iHeart Entertainment Stage... #weownit #volvooceanraceauckland pic.twitter.com/IQMRmK6Eqa

— Volvo Ocean Race Auckland (@vorauckland) March 8, 2018

"I was a bit that way," the Kiwi sailor said of not being motivated by the series. "But after talking to the skipper, Charlie (Enright), they had a tiebreak on the final result last time and it came back to the in-port racing and they ended up dropping a place in the overall result.

"So it does have a bearing and the guys, all the boats, have taken it seriously and we do push it a little bit - we're quite happy to."

It'll be Vestas' first in-race action since they vessel had been repaired. After sustaining damage in a collision in Hong Kong, the yacht was transported to Auckland where it was built back to race shape.

The #Blueboat is back on the water in Auckland! #WindandWater #LeadingSustainability #VolvoOceanRace #CityofSails #Sailing #Vestas11thHourRacing #Auckland pic.twitter.com/GTR6IKz7Me

— Vestas 11th Hour (@Vestas11thHour) March 7, 2018

The fleet had a practice race on Friday around a shortened version of Saturday's course, with AkzoNobel, MAPFRE and DongFeng beating Vestas and Turn the Tide on Plastic over the line. Team Brunel followed, ahead of Scallywag, whose high-risk starting manoeuvre saw them run out of room and miss the starting line entirely.

Not that that mattered, with the crews looking ahead of what was expected to be a tough race. Competition aside, the conditions could have a part to play with light winds forecast.

There are 11 in-port races in the series. Photo: Ainhoa Sanchez/Volvo Ocean Race

"It might be a light and drifty but fingers crossed, maybe we'll get something," Mutter said.

The race gets underway at 2pm and was expected to finish an hour later. Spectators can watch the event at the race village on the Viaduct Harbour.