Yachting: It will get tougher say illbruck crew

By JULIE ASH

SYDNEY - With two stage wins already under their belt, illbruck are hoping to keep a clean sheet in leg three of the round-the-world race.

The German entry, with six New Zealanders aboard, have set the pace in the gruelling nine-leg race, which began in Southampton in September.

But watch captain Mark Christensen expects the race to get tougher.

"You sort of dream of being in this position but you never expect it to happen," he said.

Illbruck made a remarkable comeback to win the last leg from Cape Town to Sydney after they sprang a leak and almost sank in the early stages of the race.

"On this occasion we came really close to sinking but fortunately we made some good decisions and were able to carry on.

"I guess you feel a little bit indestructible sailing the boats for so long but that really broke my confidence. It struck me then that we could die in this race."

It is the third time that Christensen has raced around the world. He was with Winston in 1993-1994 and on the winning EF Language in 1997-98.

"On average I think the boats are a lot better this time.

"It is a lot more intense as there is not much difference in the boats' speed but the weather has helped keep the fleet together."

He said the third leg from Sydney to Auckland was always a tough one and with the Sydney to Hobart race thrown in for the first time it was going to be an extra challenge.

"It is a hard leg to call. We have got a good chance of winning it, but then with the weather you never know.

"We are reasonably good upwind, which will help, but I think the key thing will be not to break any gear," Christensen said.

"I have done the Sydney to Hobart race five times.

"I don't think it was necessary to do it as part of the ocean race but it is part of the course and that is that - we all knew the course going into it. It is just the restart which is hard."

After the round-the-world race, illbruck will begin their preparation for the America's Cup Challengers series.

All six New Zealanders on illbruck - Christensen, Stuart Bannatyne, Stu Bettany, Ray Davies, Jamie Gale and Ross Halcrow - will race in the America's Cup.

"They asked us if we wanted to be part of the America's Cup team and we all said yes.

"It is tough doing this race and then with that in the background, but we're all looking forward to it."

Volvo Ocean Race competitors