Vidéo / Chris Nicholson (CAMPER): "We could have been fifth"

Skipper Chris Nicholson (CAMPER): "It was pretty tricky and with a lot of compression. It could have gone either way, with Abu Dhabi coming right in there as well. We could have been fifth. It's amazing. We didn't see a boat since the start in Sanya until a day ago. We were hundreds of miles apart, and end up within boat lengths of each other at the finish."

VOR / Ken Read (Puma): "The boat rewarded us"

PUMA and Telefónica joined Leg 4 winners Groupama on the podium on Sunday after coming off best in a frantic tussle for places coming into Auckland.

Credit : M.Bow/VOR

VOR / Puma and Telefonica on podium in Auckland

PUMA clinched second place before Telefónica edged out CAMPER with a margin of just 93 seconds for third as thousands of fans roared home the boats over two hours of extraordinary drama at the end of Leg 4.

Credit : I.Roman/VOR

VOR / Brad Marsh (Groupama 4) :"It’s a childhood dream for me”

Groupama’s only Kiwi crewmember Brad Marsh fulfilled his childhood dream on Saturday as he and his team mates arrived victorious into Auckland, describing the win as the proudest moment of his life.

Credit : I.Roman/VOR

VOR / Franck Cammas :"It's a great day for Groupama 4 !"

Groupama sailing team claimed a dramatic Leg 4 victory on Saturday after the discovery of a hole in their bow threatened to sink their lead within 100 miles of the Auckland finish.

Credit : I.Roman/VOR

VOR / Franck Cammas and Groupama due into the finish late Saturday morning

Groupama 4 was the first to pass Cape Reinga, which marks the northern tip of New Zealand, early this Friday afternoon. Franck Cammas and his men have just 180 miles to go to make the finish in Auckland. Over a hundred miles behind the French boat, there is a fierce battle for a place on the podium!

Credit : Y.Riou/Groupama/VOR

VOR / The three-way battle for the remaining podium places has intensified

The three-way battle for the remaining podium places has intensified with PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG, Team Telefónica and CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand all vying to secure second place.

Credit : A.Ross/Puma/VOR

VOR / Telefonica defends 2nd place at under 48 hours from the finish at Auckland

In second position, “Telefónica” continues on course to Auckland (New Zealand) with “Groupama” in their sights, currently some one hundred miles ahead . Astern America's “Puma” is 12.5 miles behind and New Zealand entry “Camper” is 35.5 miles away. This pack is currently in a compression zone from which the French boat is slowly starting to push away, joined by “Telefónica” on a veritable tacking battle.

Credit : D.Fructuoso/Telefonica/VOR

VOR / Thomas Coville (Groupama 4): "We are thinking about the victory, but it’s far from over"

Groupama sailing team are edging closer to a Leg 4 victory after establishing an almost 100 nautical mile (nm) lead at 1300 UTC today in fresh breezes on the approach to the northern tip of New Zealand with less than 460 nm to the finish in Auckland.

Credit : Y.Riou/Groupama/VOR

VOR / Franck Cammas :"In the current circumstances, there's not a lot we can do"

The depression, which has settled into position across the direct route to Auckland, is forcing the fleet to go around the resulting zone of calms. Groupama 4 has managed to hold onto her lead ahead of the Americans and Spanish, but the last 500 miles are likely to be punctuated by a steady South-East to easterly headwind, which is set to ease as they close on New Zealand. As such the fleet is likely to bunch up...

Credit : Y.Riou/Groupama/VOR

VOR / Bad day for Ken Read and Puma falling into third place

Windless rain clouds have stonewalled PUMA’s eastern course and allowed Team Telefónica to sail around them in the west to claim second place.

Credit : A.Ross/Puma/VOR

Volvo Ocean Race / Groupama bank valuable miles

Groupama sailing team are making the most of fresh trade winds to increase their margin at the front of the fleet as they power south faster than anyone else.

Credit : A. Ross/Puma/VOR

VOR / Auckland buzzing as Race Village opening nears (images)

Volvo Ocean Race fever is sweeping through Auckland as the city prepares for the opening of the Race Village on Thursday and the imminent arrival of the six-strong fleet.

Credit : P.Todd/VOR

VOR / Chris Nicholson :"Nothing can be taken for granted at the moment"

The fleet is starting to compress as Groupama lead the approach to New Caledonia where a rapidly changing weather system is raising prospects of a leaderboard shuffle.

Credit : H.Hooper/Camper/VOR

Video / Chris Nicholson and CAMPER continue to push hard to New Zealand

VOR / Leg leaders Groupama sailing team have extended their advantage

Leg leaders Groupama sailing team have extended their advantage over second placed PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG to 90 nautical miles (nm) after the French team were first into steady trade winds south of the Doldrums.

Credit : D.Fructuoso/Telefonica/VOR

VOR / Iker Martinez :"We had to call an emergency meeting on board"

Three hours after crossing the Equator, Iker Martínez found a moment to sit down in front of the computer and write an update whilst checking out the latest met forecasts with navigator Andrew Cape. The last 2,500 miles of racing on this leg throw up a lot of question marks and there a multiple strategic options on the table for the Spanish team to shuffle as they take on the Southern Hemisphere on this fourth stage of the Volvo Ocean Race.

Credit : D.Fructuoso/Telefonica/VOR

VOR / Groupama is still leading the fleet

Whilst the tradewinds are becoming increasingly sluggish in this descent towards Auckland, the fleet are about to immerse themselves in the Melanesian archipelagos. Two routes are open to them. The three boats furthest West have opted to traverse the Solomon Islands whilst the three crews furthest East are targeting Vanuatu. This separation of the fleet may create huge differences in the space of a just a few hours!

Credit : Y.Riou/Groupama/VOR

VOR / Groupama led the fleet across the equator into the Southern Hemisphere

The fleet's third Doldrums crossing of the race is offering up threats and opportunities in equal measure as the weary crews battle sweltering heat and increasingly volatile weather conditions on on Day 13 of Leg 4 from China to New Zealand.

Credit : D.Fructuoso/Telefonica/VOR

VOR / Iker Martinez (Telefonica) : "We are not where we'd like to be"

At some 350 miles from the Equator, “Telefónica” continues to notch up high speeds. According to today's 13:00 UTC position report, the Spanish boat is advancing at 17,9 knots and on board the crew are waiting for a new array of possibilities to open up at the lulls at the Equator with new options for the approach to Australia, where it look very much like this leg may be decided.

Credit : D.Fructuoso/Telefonica/VOR