Groupama sailing team are leading the charge to trade winds that promise to slingshot the first to reach them into a powerful position in the race to Auckland.

Abu Dhabi skipper Ian Walker believes the next 24 hours could prove crucial to the Leg 4 leaderboard as the fleet fights its way into stronger and steadier trade winds.

Overall race leaders Team Telefónica and second placed CAMPER were today formulating a plan to escape the clutches of an area of lighter breeze that relegated both teams down the Leg 4 rankings.

Groupama sailing team topped the leaderboard with a strong strategic hold on the fleet on Monday -- a position skipper Franck Cammas put down to the cunning work of navigator Jean-Luc Nélias.

The sound of carbon fibre cracking is enough to fill any Volvo Ocean Race sailor with alarm, which is why the Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing team were scrambling on deck last night.

Team Telefónica celebrated the birth of João ‘Joca’ Signorini’s new baby girl with a Cuban cigar sneaked on board especially for the happy event.

Stay up to date with our handy guide to the current state of play in the Race.

More than 100 miles of lateral separation split the Volvo Ocean Race fleet this morning as PUMA and Groupama continued their charge to the north of the pack.

A huge compression in the Volvo Ocean Race fleet brought the six teams to within 45 miles of one another on Sunday as the search for the elusive trade winds continued.

Groupama sailing team took up a strong position to the east of the fleet on Sunday after a radical move that could give the French team a real advantage on Leg 4.

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing were today counting the hours, minutes and seconds until they can get a taste of the sailing conditions which have put huge smiles on the faces of the PUMA crew.

Fish and chips, steak and cheese pies and the sweet treat Pavlova are making the predominately Kiwi crew on board Sanya salivate as they race to Auckland.

Leg 4 leaders CAMPER were fending off threats on three fronts on Sunday, with PUMA enjoying life in their northern groove, Telefónica speeding along in the south and Groupama heading the push to the east.

A sneaky jibe about misreading sailing instructions has sparked a wager between old mates and long-time adversaries Ian Walker and Ken Read.

Tonight Team Telefónica have worked their way steadily south on the fleet as fading breezes force the pack including leaders CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand to head to the north east. Furthest north, PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG continue to make up ground as they forge quickly east.

PUMA’s Mar Mostro is powering at breakneck speeds almost double those of the fleet and fast closing the more than 200 nautical mile gap with leg leaders CAMPER.

CAMPER and Groupama extended their lead on the Volvo Ocean Race fleet pushing east as PUMA Ocean Racing gambled their chips on the arrival of a northerly breeze forecast to fill in in the next 48 hours.

While most of the Volvo Ocean Race crews are itching to reach the stable conditions of the trade winds, Team Sanya have their fingers crossed for more of the varied weather that has allowed them to prey on their rivals during Leg 4.

Anyone watching PUMA Ocean Racing’s track over the past few days could be forgiven for wondering just where they think they're heading.

Thunderstorms and uncooperative winds are continuing to make life difficult for the teams on Leg 4 Stage 2 from Sanya to Auckland. The main fleet have finally caught a break from a northerly wind shift which enabled the five-boat pack in the south to tack and head south east.

The last time Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s Emirati crewmember Adil Khalid left China is was by airplane after competing in the 2008 Olympic Games in the singlehanded Laser dinghy class.

Virtual skippers in the Volvo Ocean Race Game will get back all the credits spent during Leg 4 because of the technical problems that led to a restart and regrettably continue to affect some players. All players will also receive a free pro sail pack for Leg 5.

PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG tonight continued their lone quest in the north having finally found the wind shift they needed to turn east.

Groupama sailing team are sitting comfortably and biding their time after a smooth passage through the Strait of Luzon, helmsman Charles Caudrelier said.

After four days of little sleep, no food and sea sickness at the hands of the rough South China Sea swells, some degree of normality was returning to the fleet today after reaching the relative calm of the Pacific.

There were celebrations across the Volvo Ocean Race fleet this morning as the six boats settled into better racing conditions, finally free from the misery of the South China Sea.

Groupama sailing team and CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand were at the head of the fleet after the six teams waved goodbye to the South China Sea with evident relief.

Team Sanya were revelling in the action at the front of the fleet today after seeing the tweaks they made during their home stopover pay off.

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing are sailing into the unknown after being hit with unpredictable weather as they try to struggle free from the South China Sea.

The Volvo Ocean Race teams are preparing for what they hope will be their final night trying to dodge huge waves in the pitch black as they battle to break free from the clutches of the South China Sea.