Abu Dhabi's hopes of getting back into Volvo Ocean Race contention were hit Sunday when it had to head back to port in Auckland after suffering damage to its boat slamming off the back of a wave. The team skippered by Britain's Olympic silver medallist Ian Walker suffered the problem six hours after setting out on Leg 5 towards boat-breaking conditions, with forecasts of winds up to 60 knots and waves as high as eight meters. It arrived back in Auckland at 1030 GMT with a breakage in the structure that keeps the crucial J4 sail in place. Without it, it could not cope with the violent conditions that await the six teams on the race through the Southern Ocean and around Cape Horn. Abu Dhabi is fifth overall and need leg victories to get back in the running for overall honors in the race, which finishes in Galway, Ireland in July. Team Sanya, the only team trailing Abu Dhabi in the standings, had earlier led the fleet out of Auckland. The Sanya crew, under a former winner, Mike Sanderson, but using a second-hand boat, have suffered two suspensions so far to make repairs on their hull and rigging. The race is at a key point with the boats still closely bunched in the overall standings halfway through the nine-month, 39,000 nautical mile test. Telefonica of Spain leads by 15 points from French entry Groupama but with each leg counting for 30 points apiece and five stages still to contest, the race is still wide open.
