Thanks Guangzhou!
The fleet will leave Guangzhou, China to head back to Hong Kong before beginning a 6,100-mile race to Auckland, New ZealandThe Volvo Ocean Race fleet will depart Guangzhou, China on Monday 5 February to head back to Hong Kong before beginning Leg 6 to Auckland, New Zealand.
Following the Race's fourth stop in mainland China in four editions, the boats are heading back to Hong Kong and are expected to arrive Monday evening local time.
The fleet will then restart in Hong Kong for Leg 6 to Auckland on Wednesday 7 February.
China has a decade long history with the race, having first hosted the event in 2008-09 when the boats stopped in Qingdao, and Ian Walker's Green Dragon crew included the first Chinese crew member in history, as Guo Chuan stepped onboard as Media Crew Member.
A visit to Sanya followed in the following edition, as Aussie sailor Chris Nicholson, sailing in 2017-18 with team AkzoNobel, skippered Team Sanya.
In 2014-15, Charles Caudrelier's Dongfeng Race Team featuring a host of Chinese rookies, wrote a new chapter in the history of Chinese offshore sailing, capturing hearts and minds around the world as their underdog story saw them battle all the way around the world.
They're back (and stronger than ever) this edition – and we've returned to the region too, with first-time visits to Hong Kong SAR and Guangzhou. The race also boasts a Hong Kong-flagged team for the first time in Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag.
"This my third time that I've been to China with the Volvo Ocean Race. We have been for a few days and it's different than to what we are used to, but very nice," said Brunel skipper Bouwe Bekking.
"An excellent marina, and the infrastructure is superb. The organisation is fantastic and it's clear that the Chinese know how to put things in to place very quickly.
"It's been very nippy, temperatures around 10 degrees during the day and colder during the mornings, so everybody looks like Michelin Man, heaps of clothing on!"
Don't miss the live coverage of the Hong Kong departure on Wednesday 7 February – stay tuned for more info.