Yachting: Camper around Cape Horn and heading north

Adam Minoprio, Daryl Wislang, Tony Rae, Chris Nicholson onboard CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand. Photo / Hamish Hooper

Team New Zealand's Camper has rounded the sailors' landmark of Cape Horn at the southernmost tip of South America and is heading north as the Volvo Ocean Race continues.

Camper rounded the infamous Cape at just past midday today (weds, NZT) in relatively moderate conditions, with the team managing to stay ahead of the severe weather system behind them that is packing winds of up to 60 knots.

Camper now has less than 2000 nautical miles to go to the finish line in Itajai, with the next challenge whether to take a route east or west of the Falkland Islands.

Passing Cape Horn marks a major milestone for the team and means that they can leave behind the Furious Fifties and the extreme conditions of the Southern Ocean.

Camper skipper Chris Nicholson said rounding Cape Horn was a special moment in the race.

"It's a very harsh part of the world so to get around it in good shape is a big relief and something we've all been looking forward to.

"It signals that you're getting out of the Southern Ocean in one piece and after what we've seen in this leg that's got to be a good thing.

"It's a big moment for all of us aboard but especially for Adam (Minoprio) and Hamish (Hooper) as this is their first time around. There's so much history associated with Cape Horn and so few sailors actually get to experience so it's a pretty major milestone for everyone.

"Now we can focus on getting north, getting out of the cold and into warmer temperatures, and getting away from this nasty weather system behind us. It's really late in the season to be rounding Cape Horn so it's great to have it behind us."