America's Cup winner Blair Tuke has caught his first glimpse of New Zealand as the Volvo Ocean Race entries close in on the finish line in Auckland.
Tuke's MAPFRE team sit in fifth place in the leg from Hong Kong to Auckland, more than 50 nautical miles behind the leadingboats that are heading around North Cape this morning.
Team AkzoNobel and Team Scallywag are neck and neck with just over 180 nautical miles to the finish in Auckland. The leaders are expected to finish the six leg later tonight.
Tuke told the Mike Hosking Breakfast they caught sight of the Three Kings Islands at day break and were not far away from mainland New Zealand.
"We should see mainland New Zealand in a couple of hours and be at North Cape within four hours. Pretty excited to be honest," the America's Cup and Olympic champion said.
"This has been a leg I've been looking forward to the most, having the opportunity to sail to NZ. It's been a long time away. I haven't been on a plane since the start of the race and haven't been back in New Zealand since September and before that it was America's Cup. So not much time in NZ over the last year so very much looking forward to getting home and seeing friends and family. Pretty cool way to do it."
Despite being off the pace in the sixth leg, Tuke said it's been an enjoyable experience.
"It's been an amazing race so far lots of different experiences, learning lots. The boat I'm on MAPFRE we've been going pretty well. Had a couple of tough legs now. The one up to Hong Kong wasn't so great for us and we're not in great position on the way back down here but overall we're still in the lead. So it's been a great race so far.
"Now to be sailing into NZ we've got a real right on our hands today with Dongfeng who are currently half a mile in front of us so it's going to be a long day sailing down the coast and into the night as we head into Auckland. "
America's Cup and Olympic teammate Peter Burling sits in sixth place with Team Brunel, 126 nautical miles behind the leaders.
