Volvo Ocean Race: Leg 6 Dockside in the early morning

Skipper Simeon Tienpont after winning Leg 6, Volvo Ocean Race - Leg 6 Finish, Auckland, February 28, © Richard Gladwell

Leg 6 of the Volvo Ocean race finished in the early hours of Wednesday morning in Auckland, New Zealand. Five of the six boats finished within 25 minutes of each other - which was quite remarkable considering they had been over 20 days at sea.

Here is a gallery of shots taken as the boats arrived around 2.00am NZT - with quite a reasonable sized crowd considering the early hour and that it was in the middle of the working week.

Third placegetter MAPFRE beats at the end of Leg 6Volvo Ocean Race - Leg 6 Finish, Auckland, February 28, - photo © Richard Gladwell

Fifth Placegetter Skipper Dee Caffari (GBR) interviewing, Volvo Ocean Race - Leg 6 Finish, Auckland, February 28, - photo © Richard Gladwell

Bianca Cook (NZL) pleased to be home - Turn the Tide on Plastic, Volvo Ocean Race - Leg 6 Finish, Auckland, February 28, - photo © Richard Gladwell

Dongfeng skipper Charles Caudreiller (FRA) 4th place Leg 6, Volvo Ocean Race - Leg 6 Finish, Auckland, February 28, - photo © Richard Gladwell

Blair Tuke (NZL) MAPFRE third place getter Leg 6, Volvo Ocean Race - Leg 6 Finish, Auckland, February 28, - photo © Richard Gladwell

SHK Scallywag and MAPFRE second and third placegetters Leg 6 Volvo Ocean Race - Leg 6 Finish, Auckland, February 28, - photo © Richard Gladwell

Peter Burling (Team Brunel) is interviewed by NZ media at 3.00am after 20 days at sea. Volvo Ocean Race - Leg 6 Finish, Auckland, February 28, - photo © Richard Gladwell

After over 20 days at sea, Peter Burling (NZL) arrives aboard 6th placed Team Brunel Volvo Ocean Race - Leg 6 Finish, Auckland, February 28, - photo © Richard Gladwell

Bianca Cook (NZL) Turn the Tide on Plastic, Volvo Ocean Race - Leg 6 Finish, Auckland, February 28, - photo © Richard Gladwell

Blair Tuke welcomed home by his family, Volvo Ocean Race - Leg 6 Finish, Auckland, February 28, - photo © Richard Gladwell

Volvo Ocean Race - Leg 6 Finish, Auckland, February 28, - photo © Richard Gladwell

Libby Greenhalgh, Navigator, SHK Scallywag second placegetter, leg 6, Volvo Ocean Race - Leg 6 Finish, Auckland, February 28, - photo © Richard Gladwell

SHK Scallywag skipper David Witt being interviewed after placing second, Leg 6, Volvo Ocean Race - Leg 6 Finish, Auckland, February 28, - photo © Richard Gladwell

Olympic Gold Medalist, Martine Grael, Leg 6 Winner Team AzkoNobel, Volvo Ocean Race - Leg 6 Finish, Auckland, February 28, - photo © Richard Gladwell

Leg 6 winner, Team AzkoNobel, Volvo Ocean Race - Leg 6 Finish, Auckland, February 28, - photo © Richard Gladwell