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Thursday 15th March

Groupama ended Telefonica’s three successive Volvo Ocean Race leg wins
run by clinching the fourth leg to Auckland, but not before a dramatic finale.

 Above NIGHT GAMES: Groupama enters Auckland harbour to win the third leg.

The Franck Cammas-skippered entry limped into Auckland harbour after
being holed in their bow within 100 miles of the finish.

Groupama’s crew had to isolate the leak and furiously pump a total of
1.5 tonnes of water before crossing the line 80 nautical miles ahead of Puma in
second place. 

 Above HOLE LOT OF TROUBLE: Groupama’s crew work feverishly to pump water after
her hull was holed.

Just 38nm separated Puma in second place and Sanya in sixth in a furious
scramble behind Groupama.

Above SHORE THING: The
hard work now starts for the shore crew to get boats ready for a tough Southern
Ocean fifth leg after the Volvo Ocean fleet arrives in Auckland, New Zealand.

Telefonica claimed the last podium place, slipping in just minutes ahead
of Camper in fourth, Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing fifth and Sanya bringing up the
rear.

 Above SECOND BEST: Puma is surrounded by public boats as they sail into second
place.

Iker Martinez’s Telefonica retain the overall lead, but will be looking
nervously over their sterns as Groupama close the gap.

For the second successive leg Puma claimed the IWC Schaffhausen Speed
Record challenge, having covered 527.8 nm in 24 hours.

Above TIGHT FINISH: Telefonica just pip Camper for third place.

Almost as soon as the fleet completed the leg, boats were out of the
water for turnaround work, ready for Thursday’s practice race.

A later than expected arrival in Auckland and a short stopover left shore
crews with just seven days to prepare boats for the fifth leg where the fleet
face a daunting passage across the Southern Ocean and around Cape Horn, to
finish in Itajai in Brazil.

Above KIWI WELCOME: Groupama’s Brad Marsh had the honour of being the first
New Zealander home.

That holed bow presented Groupama’s boat-building crew with the biggest
challenge but shore team manager Ben Wright said: “The guys have done an
incredible job. We’re very happy with what the team have been able to pull off.
When you’ve got guys that are motivated, you can get through almost anything.”

Above WATER
BORNE: Groupama is lowered back into the water after turnaround repairs.

“Now it’s back into our regular routine, get in the water and into sailing
mode.”

Video CLOSE THING: New
Zealand’s fanatical yachting followers turn out in force to witness a close battle
for podium places at the end of the fourth leg.

Overall
race leaders Telefonica have opted not to replace their standing rigging for
the second time, ahead of the battle with the Southern Ocean.

Above UP ALOFT:
Sanya crew member Andres Soriano takes time out to abseil down Auckland’s Sky
Tower

Shore
crew boss Horacio Carabelli said: “We were a little concerned about the
standing rigging that we changed in Sanya. We had a plan to change it here in
Auckland as it was the first one we had fitted on the boat, but we are pretty
happy with the way it came in.”

NEXT UP:

Auckland in port race – Sat 17 March 1400 local (0100 UTC)

Leg 5 Start – Auckland to Itajal – Sun 18 March