SAILING:The fourth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race is expected to be decided tomorrow as the six-boat fleet closes on Cape Reinga which marks the final 100-mile approach to Auckland, reports David Branigan.

French-entry Groupama 4, skippered by Franck Cammas with Ireland’s Damian Foxall as watch-leader, has held its 100-mile lead with expectations running high that overall race leader Telefonica, skippered by Spain’s Iker Martinez, will end its run of leg wins. However, the weather predictions are complex and the potential for a turn-around in the standings are high. Team Sanya has halved a 400-mile deficit in four days and light winds are forecast for the Auckland area.

Martinez’s team has won the previous three legs and moved up from fourth place to second in this leg over the last week and could still overtake Groupama even after 6,000 miles of constant racing.

The fleet will barely have one week in Auckland before starting the Southern Ocean stage to Brazil.