Yachting: Camper happy with split

Team Sanya is one of three Volvo Ocean Race boats following the African coast longer before crossing the Agulhas current on the second leg to Abu Dhabi. Photo / Supplied

Team New Zealand are quietly confident their decision to split from the fleet early on in leg two of the Volvo Ocean Race will pay off in the long term.

The choice of when to cross the Agulhas current split the round the world fleet on Wednesday, with Camper, Groupama and Puma heading south to make their run early, leaving Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, Team Telefonica and Team Sanya to sail further along the coast before trying to cross.

The differing tactics have caused anxious times on the six boats as they await to see which race plan pays off. The lead has already changed many times over the first five days of the race, with all six boats holding the lead at various stages.

Last night's second round report had Camper placed fourth, 55 nautical miles off the leading boat, Telefonica.

The Spanish-flagged yacht took the lead from Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing early yesterday morning as the fractured fleet spanned more than 100km across the Indian Ocean heading east.

Telefonica remain further north along with Abu Dhabi, while Camper has opted for a southern route, looking for long-term benefits.

Team New Zealand helmsman-trimmer Rob Salthouse said while the team appear off the pace of the leaders now, he believes they are well-placed to make gains later in the race.

"Not a lot of nerves from our side of it," said Salthouse.

"But I can understand why the other guys have done it, sort of tried to sail in flatter smoother water for longer and use the breeze that was on the shore.

"Their trouble will come a little later on when they try to get east and they'll struggle - it's normally the key to heading north up the Indian Ocean.

"They may have it right at this time, but it's not telling us what we think it should be."

Telefonica navigator Andrew Cape said it was time for a gamble, having played the tricky shifts they were constantly dealt as they sailed around the bottom of South Africa since leaving Cape Town last weekend.

"Really it's a roll of the dice, and you place your bets," Cape said.

"It is tense... but I'm confident as well."