Intro:

Local favourite Camper with Emirates Team New Zealand won the In-Port race at Auckland on Saturday, ahead of the fifth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race.

Fierce sea conditions, which led to a ripped a bulkhead in their bow, then caused Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing to return to Auckland for repairs less than six hours into Leg 5.

The 6,705 nautical mile stage ends at Itajai, Brazil.

Script:

After a five-day break for the fleet, the 11th Volvo Ocean Race resumed on Saturday with the Auckland In-Port Race.

Camper with Emirates Team New Zealand, inevitably, had the backing of most of spectators.

US boat Puma got off to the best start, ahead of Abu Dhabi and Telefonica.

But it was Camper, using local knowledge, that led by the first mark.

Groupama and Puma followed, while, further back, Sanya, Abu Dhabi and Telefonica all rounded the mark together - with Abu Dhabi trying to grab the inside line.

The battle for second and third between Groupama and Puma allowed Camper to slip away and extend their lead uncontested as they passed under the viaduct.

A good outing from Sanya saw them take fourth place, while Abu Dhabi made up good ground to come fifth, leaving Telefonica, the overall race leader, in last place.

After a brief stopover, Leg 5 commenced.

Weather forecasters were predicting a stormy Southern Ocean welcome for the fleet.

Once again Camper had a great start on the leeward end of the line and Sanya on the windward end.

But it was Mike Sanderson and team Sanya who took control, leading the fleet all the way to round the first mark.

Abu Dhabi rounded in second, ahead of Telefonica, Camper and Puma, with Groupama in sixth place.

Having dominated the in-shore part of the fifth leg, Sanya now led the field out towards the open Pacific.

Abu Dhabi and Camper were chasing them hard and before long Ian Walker had pushed the bow of Abu Dhabi just clear at the front.

But as the weather became more intense - disaster struck the United Arab Emirates entrant.

Having changed to a storm jib, part of Abu Dhabi's bulkhead tore away and the skipper made the call that they had to return for repairs.

SOUNDBITE (English)

SUPER CAPTION: Ian Walker, Skipper of Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing:

"It would have been a big repair to get that bulkhead back in and take the load of the J4, which is a sail which we are going to probably use 80 per cent of the time in the Southern Ocean. So - just took the decision, we discussed it, we're only 40 miles away from Auckland, let's come back. We'll probably repair it quicker and better here and then we can get back out and try and catch everyone up."

Watching as the rest of the fleet head out into the Southern Ocean, Walker and his crew turned tail and headed back to Auckland.