Yachting: Team NZ hold narrow lead after challenging start

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing's yacht Azzam, skippered by Britain's Ian Walker, returned to Alicante, Spain after the mast broke in rough weather on the first day of racing. Picture / Paul Todd

Team New Zealand were last night battling to maintain their lead in the Volvo Ocean Race with Spanish team Telefonica nipping at their heels as the fleet made their way through the Strait of Gibraltar and into the Atlantic.

The fleet have endured a tough first 48 hours in the round-the-world race, but the Camper-sponsored boat excelled early on to hold first place.

With winds averaging 30 knots and at times gusting over 40, accompanied by 4-5m seas in the early stages of the race, Emirates Team New Zealand opened out a lead over four nautical miles yesterday morning. But Telefonica found some good speed as they reached the Atlantic and started to make big inroads, closing the gap to just over 2nm last night.

Groupama sits in third, at more than 18nm behind the Camper boat, while Puma were a further 2nm back.

The rough conditions resulted in two boats suspending racing less than 24 hours into the first leg from Alicante, Spain to Cape Town after suffering extensive damage.

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing limped back into Alicante under engine yesterday morning after the mast on the Azzam had broken in 5m waves and 30 knots of wind the previous night, just six hours into the race.

While Ian Walker's team were on their way back to the start port, rivals Team Sanya were reporting damage to their hull while sailing upwind in 35-38 knots.

The boat was about 30nm southeast of Motril, on the coast of Spain. The wind was blowing 43 knots and the waves were about 10.5m, the team reported. They suspended racing and made their way to the port of Motril to assess the damage.

Upon Azzam's return to Alicante, an emotional Walker said his crew were very disappointed but hoped to be back in the race within three days.

Boat builders were also having to repair the hull which was punctured by spreaders as the mast toppled over.

"It is pretty hard to put into words how we are feeling," Walker said. "We have put so much into this project over the past 18 months and do not want to let anyone down.

"We are still desperate to do well. The race is not lost and sometimes this can galvanise a team."