Yachting: Camper nears Cape Town finish line

Camper with Emirates Team New Zealand sails to Cape Town. Photo / Supplied

Camper is nearing the Cape Town finish line of leg one of the Volvo Ocean Race after three weeks at sea.

The Team New Zealand boat remains in second place behind Telefonica and is scheduled to finish about 8pm (NZ time).

Camper is focused on getting across the finish line as quickly as possible and avoiding an approaching ridge of high pressure to the west of the boat.

The final 24 hours of leg one are likely to present some robust sailing conditions with strong pressure expected on the approach into Cape Town especially over the last 90 miles close in to the South African coastline.

Camper conceded ground to be 208 miles off the pace as Telefonica takes advantage of their better positioning east of the New Zealand boat. Telefonica were expected to cross the finish line this morning to take the honours in leg one.

If current standings are maintained across the finish line there will be one point separating the two teams on the leaderboard with Telefonica on 30 points and Camper on 29.

Skipper Chris Nicholson said it had been a frustrating leg to date.

"We've spent 6000 miles playing catch-up and that's not a place I like to be. Even now three weeks into the leg we haven't really had the opportunity to test ourselves boat on boat with the other guys.

"We know for a fact we can do a lot better and that's why we will be focusing hard for every last minute of this leg to squeeze out that extra speed."