Volvo Ocean Race: Peter Burling skips leg to Hong Kong

Teams have made several changes for the latest leg of the Volvo Ocean Race. Photo /Getty

America's Cup winner Peter Burling is taking a break from the Volvo Ocean Race.

The Team Brunel helm-trimmer is skipping the latest leg from Melbourne to Hong Kong which starts tomorrow.

Three other members of fourth placed Team Brunel will miss the fourth leg. The next leg is 6000 nautical miles long, followed by a short leg to China.

Burling is expected to re-join the crew for the sixth leg from Hong Kong to Auckland which begins on February 7.

Team New Zealand and Olympics teammate Blair Tuke will remain on the MAPFRE boat, which currently leads the race.