CAMPER ETNZ News - Latest Blog from Hamish Hooper

After four long days CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand’s pit stop is complete and the team will shortly resume racing in Leg Five.

Photo: Hamish Hooper/Camper ETNZ/Volvo Ocean Race

CAMPER left Puerto Montt last night NZT, and after a 12 hour motor down the fjord leading to the port is expected to reach the point where racing was suspended in the next hour or two and resume racing.

Rob Salthouse Photo: Hamish Hooper/Camper ETNZ/Volvo Ocean Race

Under race rules CAMPER must return to the point where racing was officially suspended several days ago before it can formally resume racing. The team have almost 2800 nautical miles (nm) remaining to complete Leg Five involving diving south for 800 nm, before rounding the infamous Cape Horn and heading into the Southern Atlantic, and up the eastern coastline of Argentina and Brazil to the finish in Itajai.

Photo: Hamish Hooper/Camper ETNZ/Volvo Ocean Race

CAMPER skipper Chris Nicholson says that it’s great to be back at sea.

“Another stage of this marathon leg is behind us and we’re back on the road to grabbing those remaining points for Leg Five.

“It has been a short but very beneficial stop for us. We now commence the final 2800 miles of this leg with a boat we once again have full confidence in to take us around Cape Horn.

Photo: Hamish Hooper/Camper ETNZ/Volvo Ocean Race

“It’s great to have the boat back into 100% racing condition- special thanks to our shore team for creating miracles and keeping us in this race. Now we’re just looking forward to tackling Cape Horn.

“It’s hard to put into words the effort and commitment of our shore team. They simply gave up on sleep during our 4 day stop over. They knocked out the highest quality work and with never a complaint. These are the people that keep these programmes on track. We simply cannot thank them enough.

“At the moment we’re looking at about 10 days to get to Itajai. It’s a tight but achievable timeframe to make the in-port race. It will take a big push from the entire team so that we are ready for both the in-port and the next leg of the race but I know that as team we’re capable of doing it.”

Hamish Hooper

CAMPER with ETNZ