7.13am
LONDON - New Zealand's Ross Field has stepped down as co-skipper of the yacht News Corporation and will miss the sixth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race due to a bad back.
Field, 52, has been replaced by compatriot and team meteorologist Nick White.
"I'm just in pain every day, chewing anti-inflammatories,"
Field said on the race's official website.
"I'm very disappointed that I won't be competing, but I can't carry on like this, the reality has set in."
News Corporation, who are currently fifth in the eight-yacht race, did not give any details on the back injury or whether Field will rejoin the boat at a later date.
"It's a shame that Ross can't sail, but he's in a lot of pain and he has to do the right thing for his back and rest it," said News Corporation's English skipper Jez Fanstone.
"He will be missed, but in Nick (White) we have someone with less sailing experience but more technical experience with the electronics -- we'll be strong."
Field, a former police detective from Wanganui, started sailing full time in 1985. He has twice won the round-the-world race -- as skipper of the yacht Yamaha in 1993-94, and as a member of the Steinlager 2 crew with skipper Peter Blake in 1990-91.
The sixth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race from Miami to Baltimore/Annapolis starts on April 14.
- REUTERS
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