The skippers reflect on the racing to date and look ahead to the next offshore leg

Dee Caffari, skipper, Turn the Tide on Plastic: "What I'm most proud of in my team is that although we have not yet got any results, they have not once dropped their heads. They're still fighting hard and they’re developing even more self-belief and confidence that our time will come."

David Witt, skipper, Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag: “I don’t think winning Leg 4 will change how we sail. Maybe we’re a bit more confident. But you’re only as good as your last race so we’re about to get back to reality pretty quickly.“

Bouwe Bekking, skipper Team Brunel: “You have to love racing and you have to love the ocean. It’s a big challenge to get a team together. It’s not all sunshine. You have big struggles and it’s nice to come through that with your team. Of course, you want to win. I haven’t won the race – three times second – so that remains the goal. That’s the motivation.”

Simeon Tienpont, skipper, team AkzoNobel: “Bouwe was my hero when I was a kid. He’s still my hero! As a child you get inspired by this adventure. There’s only a small group of people who do this. It’s a team sport, and you have to get each other through the tough moments. It’s not like soccer where you can get a taxi back to the hotel. Here, whatever happens, you have to get through it together and that’s what inspires me about the Volvo Ocean Race.”

Charles Caudrelier, skipper, Dongfeng Race Team: “The leg to Auckland is what I call a dangerous leg. We have to cross the Doldrums and we know it’s complicated and a bit random and we’re concerned about being the guys who catch a bad cloud this time. But it’s also one of the best legs as you arrive in Auckland which is a fantastic place where people really know offshore racing and love the race.”

Xabi Fernández, skipper, MAPFRE: “It does make us crazy (losing miles in the Doldrums)! But you can jump or you can stay. We have to stay and stick it out.”