By JULIE ASH
News Corp co-skipper and campaign director Ross Field is confident his crew will perform well without him in the sixth leg of the round-the-world race from Miami to Baltimore, which starts on April 14.
The Aucklander has ruled himself out of the leg due to back pain which has
persisted since he suffered cracked ribs and broken vertebrae in the second leg.
Field, 52, said he has had enough of chewing painkillers.
"I had the series of injections in Australia and New Zealand. It was good through the Southern Ocean leg but now the injections are wearing off.
"I am really in pain every day now when I am on the boat so it was really time to give it a rest," he said.
Meteorologist Nick White returns to the boat for the sixth leg while watch leader/tactician Steve Cotton will join Field on the sideline after a disappointing fifth leg where News Corp finished fifth.
"It was a disappointing result and the blame squarely lies on my shoulders and Steven Cotton's because we put the boat in a position where we did not perform well," said Field.
Looking ahead to the remaining four legs of the event, Field said News Corp want to win and are more than capable of winning.
"Everyone is saying the event is over and illbruck has won it. Well, illbruck hasn't won it.
"The Atlantic can kick up anything and the North Sea can kick up anything and you have to be aware of the situation and we are aware of the situation.
"Illbruck could have a major failure and it is all open again.
"We made a fantastic comeback. We are in very good shape. We have a good boat and a good crew," he said.
After five of the nine legs illbruck have the overall lead with 36 points. Assa Abloy are second with 28 and Amer Sports One third with 25 points. Tyco have 24, News Corp 23, djuice 19, SEB 17 and Amer Sports Too 8.
The leg from Miami to Baltimore is a short, 875-nautical-mile hop, with the leading boats due to cross the finish line in four days sailing.
About the round-the-world race
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