Yachting: Camper back in action

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

After four long days the pit stop for Team New Zealand's Camper is complete and the team will shortly resume racing in leg five of the Volvo Ocean Race.

Camper left Puerto Montt, Chile last night and, after a 12-hour motor down the fjord leading to the port, are expected to reach the point where racing was suspended early this afternoon.

Under race rules, Camper must return to the point where racing was officially suspended several days ago before it can formally resume. The team have almost 2800 nautical miles remaining to complete leg five, involving diving south for 800 nm before rounding the infamous Cape Horn.

They will then head into the Southern Atlantic and up the eastern coastline of Argentina and Brazil to the finish in Itajai.

Camper skipper Chris Nicholson said it was great to be back at sea.

"Another stage of this marathon leg is behind us and we're back on the road to grabbing those remaining points for leg five.

"It has been a short but very beneficial stop for us. We now commence the final 2800 miles of this leg with a boat we once again have full confidence in to take us around Cape Horn.

"It's hard to put into words the effort and commitment of our shore team. They simply gave up on sleep during our four-day stopover. They knocked out the highest quality work and with never a complaint. These are the people that keep these programmes on track. We simply cannot thank them enough."

Puma edged Telefonica at the finish of leg five yesterday (Sat) to claim victory while Groupama, who also had to suspend racing, are expected to finish in third place.

With Sanya and Abu Dhabi abandoning earlier in the leg after sustaining extensive damage to their boats, Camper will take fourth when they reach Itajai.

"At the moment we're looking at about 10 days to get to Itajai," Nicholson said. "It's a tight but achievable timeframe to make the in-port race. It will take a big push from the entire team so that we are ready for both the in-port and the next leg of the race, but I know that as team we're capable of doing it."