Yachting: Camper set for second

Camper is on the home stretch to Cape Town. Photo / Hamish Hooper, CAMPER ETNZ

Spanish yacht Telefonica now looks certain to win the first leg of the Volvo Ocean Race ahead of Team New Zealand's Camper.

Skipper Chris Nicholson said with only a few hundred miles left, Telefonica's lead looked unassailable, barring a breakage or something similar.

"They're in a slightly stronger position than us with a little more breeze and a better angle," said Nicholson.

"With these boats seemingly so similar performance-wise, it's going to be hard for us to make up that advantage but we're going to be throwing absolutely everything we can at them between now and the finish.

"I'm really pleased with the way the boat has performed in the conditions of the last few days. We've seen some great performance speed-wise and the boat has so far held up really well."

On day 18 of leg one, Camper is on the home stretch to Cape Town. With less than 700 miles to Cape Town, it is expected to cross the finish line on Sunday night (NZT). Camper remains second 146 miles behind Telefonica.

Both boats have now exited the strong frontal system that had delivered boat speeds of 30 knots plus and gybed over to starboard into a lighter south-westerly breeze.

With the more moderate conditions set to stay for the rest of the leg, Camper's claim to the greatest distance sailed in a 24-hour period in leg one looks set to remain intact, with their 552 mile effort on Friday.

Camper's run would have been greater had they not slowed to remove some ropes and nets caught around the keel.

"We just can't wait to get into Cape Town now and catch up with family and loved ones, have a decent meal, a hot shower, a cold beer, and a good night's sleep," said Nicholson. "It's going to be great."