Volvo Ocean Race Leg 5 - Day 21

Groupama and CAMPER back at sea

After PUMA Ocean Racing (Ken Read/USA) posted their first leg win of the Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 on Friday, Groupama sailing team (Franck Cammas/FRA) and CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand (Chris Nicholson/AUS), are today back at sea.

Groupama, who are chasing 20 points for third position, were dismasted on April 4 and put in to Punta Del Este in Uruguay to step a jury rig. The team left Punta del Este around 0500 GMT this morning, sailing the final 650 nautical miles (nm) short-handed. Four crew, including navigator Jean Luc Nélias stepped off the boat and will re-join the team in Itajaí at the finish. The team were sailing with a heavily reefed mainsail and a staysail set from the longer part of the mast that was recovered.

At 1000 GMT this morning, the team were making good progress, sailing at around eight knots.

Meanwhile, CAMPER, who docked at Puerto Montt in Chile to repair structural damage, departed at 0600 GMT and are making their way towards the point, 160 nm ahead, where they suspended racing on at 0130 GMT on April 2. They are expected to take up to 14 hours to reach their start point. It will take at least 10 days to complete the grueling voyage of approximately 3,000 nm around Cape Horn before they cross the finish in Itajaí. For finishing in fourth place, they will collect 15 points, following the retirement of Team Sanya (Mike Sanderson/NZL) and Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing (Ian Walker/GBR).

Position Report at 10:00:33 UTC:

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Nicholson hails Shore Crew as CAMPER sails again

CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand is back at sea and in the chase for precious points after repairs to the boat’s bow were completed in Puerto Montt.

The team left the Chilean port at 0600 GMT on Saturday (April 7) and are now making their way towards the point where they suspended racing five days ago, which is 160 nautical miles away. Structural damage to the boat’s bow was suffered in brutal Southern Ocean conditions that have ravaged the fleet in Leg 5.

CAMPER is expected to take up to 14 hours to reach their restart point to Itajai. It is then expected to take them at least 10 days to complete the grueling 2,800 nm voyage around Cape Horn before the finish in Brazil.

Skipper Chris Nicholson hailed the heroic efforts of the shore team for putting the boat back in the frame.

“It’s been a short but very beneficial stop for us. We now commence the final 2800 miles back with a boat we have full confidence in to take us around Cape Horn,” he said.

“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 there was never a complaint. These are the people that keep these programmes on track. We simply cannot thank them enough.”

Nicholson was deeply touched by the warmth and generosity of the Chilean locals.

“They went out of their way to try and help us; they even took us into their home to feed a very hungry CAMPER crew,” he said. “We leave here with fond memories of the country and of the people.”

Nicholson acknowledged his crew are up against it to make the Itajai in-port race on April 21 in good time.

“At this stage the weather looks okay, but it will be a big push from the entire team so that we are ready for the next leg of the race,” he added.

For finishing in fourth place CAMPER will claim 15 precious points that will soften the blow of a punishing leg. It will also leave them within 28 points of current race leader Team Telefonica, a gap that can be closed quickly with 30 points on offer for a leg win.

On Friday PUMA posted their first leg win of the 2011-12 Volvo Ocean Race after holding off a late surge from Telefonica. Groupama, who dismasted on April 4 and had to stop in Punta Del Este, Uruguay for repairs are likely to clinch third spot.

Listen to the latest audio update from Chris Nicholson