Almost all of the crew has now returned from holiday, hungry to get back to training. The shore team has been working long hours to prepare the yacht and ensure she is in top condition for the in-port race and the intense Southern Ocean leg that lies ahead. Using the knowledge gained from the first leg and valuable advice from experts, the team has reinforced weaknesses on the boat with particular focus on the keel movement system.

The rig was stepped on Monday morning and the Ericsson yacht has now returned to the water. The sailmakers are working frantically to ensure the team has the right sails for the Southern Ocean leg. With John Kostecki's arrival on Tuesday, the sailors plan to fit in as much sailing as possible, to finalize their sail selection and train for the in-port race.

The in-port race, an exciting new addition to this year's Volvo Ocean Race, will be staged in the section of Table Bay directly north of the port. The departure ceremony will begin at 11:00 at the V&A Waterfront and the race will commence at 13:00 on 26 December. The event gives teams a chance to accumulate more points towards their totals and spectators the thrill of watching the high-performance Volvo Open 70s dueling at close quarters.

Quotes:

Neal McDonald (GBR): `We have identified and modified the components that let us down in the canting keel system. Now it's time for us to go out and check everything is in good working order. During the next few days, it will also be very important for us to test some new sails for Leg Two as well as making our sail choices for the in-port race.`

Tom Braidwood (AUS): `The shore crew has done a fantastic job in getting the boat up and running and ready for the next leg. The focus now changes to sail testing, crew training and preparation for the in-port race. We also need to get a grip on the local weather system as local knowledge could prove very helpful for both the inshore race and the Leg Two start.`

Source: Annabel Merrison