Focus shifts to inshore racing on Saturday at the Volvo Ocean Race in Newport

Volvo Ocean Race - Newport stopover. Practice Race. 16 May © Jesus Renedo / Volvo Ocean Race

After returning to the northern hemisphere with nearly 40,000 nautical miles in their wake, the sailors in the Volvo Ocean Race will shift gears to inshore racing with a focus on Saturday's Gurney's Resorts In Port Race Newport.

In contrast to the long offshore ocean legs, the In Port Race Series features short course racing, close to shore, in full view of spectators on the water and in the Race Village.

For the home team, Vestas 11th Hour Racing, Saturday provides a showcase in front of home fans.

"We have an opportunity to go out there and get a good result in front of our home crowd. We have such a good group of supporters, and we'd like to put on a good show for them, so we're looking forward to that," said Vestas 11th Hour Racing skipper Charlie Enright.

"The forecast is for some good wind on Saturday and it's always nice to sail on home waters," added Nick Dana, a Newport native.

Saturday's forecast is for 10-12 knot easterlies, providing good racing conditions for the Volvo Ocean 65s.

The Volvo Ocean Race In-Port Race Series acts as a tie-breaking mechanism for the overall race leaderboard. And with just three points separating first place (MAPFRE) from second place (Dongfeng Race Team) after eight legs of racing, the results here could be crucial by the time the race finishes in The Hague at the end of June.

Current Volvo Ocean Race In-Port Race Series Leaderboard:

1. MAPFRE – 44 points
2. Dongfeng Race Team – 39 points
3. team AkzoNobel – 33 points
4. Team Brunel – 29 points
5. Vestas 11th Hour Racing – 18 points
6. Turn the Tide on Plastic – 15 points
7. Sun Hung Kai / Scallywag – 15 points

For more information visit www.volvooceanrace.com.