By JULIE ASH
News Corp navigator Ross Field is unlikely to compete in the fourth leg of the round-the-world race from Auckland to Rio de Janeiro.
The Aucklander broke two ribs and aggravated a back injury in the second leg from Cape Town to Sydney after he was thrown from the
wheel when a wave hit the boat.
He sailed in the third leg from Sydney to Auckland, but with a lot of discomfort.
"It was very painful," he said. "When I arrived at the dock I was in agony, I could hardly walk."
Field has been fitted with a corset and will receive his second epidural injection - the first was in Sydney.
"If I was a horse I would definitely be put down," he joked.
He will wait until the last minute to decide whether he sails in the next leg, which starts on January 27.
"I am going to make an assessment closer to the time, but it doesn't look that hopeful."
The race is Field's fifth round the world. He skippered Yamaha to success in the 1993-94 event and was the watch leader of Peter Blake's Steinlager which won every leg in 1989-1990.
"It will be disappointing to miss the leg , but we have to have the crew 100 per cent," he said.
"Steve Cotton [Australia] will take over the navigation.
"It was always planned to move the crew around and Steve, a watch captain, was always going to move into more of a tactical role."
Meanwhile, Great Britain's Emma Richards and Miranda Merron have been named as replacements for Sharon Ferris and Genevieve White on the all-female Amer Sports Too.
Ferris, from the Bay of Islands, left the syndicate to join another sailing project, while White, an Australian, was moved aside to make room for the more experienced Merron.
SEB have also announced changes to their team. David Rolfe, from Auckland, who left the yacht for the third leg, is back, along with Australia's Anthony Merrington. They replace Tony Rey and Sean Clarkson.
A 12th crew member will be announced shortly to replace Briton Matthew Humphries, who resigned as watch captain and helmsman.
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Volvo Ocean Adventure
Yachting: Cracked ribs put Field in doubt for fourth leg
By JULIE ASH
News Corp navigator Ross Field is unlikely to compete in the fourth leg of the round-the-world race from Auckland to Rio de Janeiro.
The Aucklander broke two ribs and aggravated a back injury in the second leg from Cape Town to Sydney after he was thrown from the
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