'Yachting: 'Stealth Zone' awaits Camper

Camper Emirates Team New Zealand, skippered by Chris Nicholson from Australia. Photo / Supplied

Team New Zealand skipper Chris Nicholson says the crew aboard Camper are ready to attack on day 11 of the Volvo Ocean Race.

The boat is looking to make the most of the fickle doldrums as it enters a 'stealth zone' - put in place by race organisers as an anti-piracy measure.

Once in the zone, the exact position of Camper and the rest of the Volvo fleet will be kept secret to protect the location of a safe haven port.

There the boats will be loaded onto a ship and transported under armed guard through the highest risk piracy area in the Indian Ocean.

Nicholson, whose boat is in fourth place, said it hadn't been fun watching French team Groupama build a 108-mile lead and it was time to make amends.

"The doldrums are a big obstacle, but they're also a big opportunity for us to close things up and get back in front.

"There's no obvious route through at the moment, although either east or west is looking slightly better. The next few days are going to deliver some incredibly tricky sailing but we relish that and will be pushing hard to make the most of it and pull back the leaders.

"It might need some Christmas Day luck but whoever can cross the major doldrums zone in the best shape should be well set-up to take the leg. We just need to make sure that it's us.

"We will be giving it absolutely everything and then some more to make sure that we take advantage of every opportunity that the next few days presents to us."