24 Feb 2012

Volvo fleet heads away from destination

5:57 am on 24 February 2012

The Volvo ocean racing fleet has been virtually becalmed after several days of huge seas on the leg from China to New Zealand, and the the six boats have been pointed towards Tokyo rather than Auckland.

Team New Zealand's Camper, in second place overall behind Spain's Telefonica, holds what looks to be the strongest position on the fourth leg of the race, but China's Team Sanya is technically leading the leg from its most southerly position, closer to New Zealand.

Camper's navigator Will Oxley says heading north towards Japan doesn't seem quite right, but it's apparently the quickest way to get to New Zealand.

The boats are due to arrive in Auckland about the 8th of March.