Ian Walker hails Azzam crew strength as Abu Dhabi claim second in Volvo Ocean Race leg 4

Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing’s runners-up finish on a difficult fourth leg to Auckland was made more impressive by the uncertainty that affected their departure from Sanya.

Barely two hours before the leg was to start, Azzam were hit by the withdrawal of Adil Khalid, the race’s sole Emirati sailor.

Khalid had to pull out and return to Abu Dhabi after being struck by a stomach bug on the eve of the leg.

That thrust Alex Higby, a young member of the on-shore team, into his place and his effort was commendable.

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“I believe our crew are the strongest in the race,” skipper Ian Walker said.

“But that was a pretty big setback for us, to lose Adil two hours before the start. Alex had two hours notice when I asked him if he wanted to do the leg.

“He wasn’t even allowed to pack his own bag because customs had sealed the boat.

“He wore Adil’s clothes and ate his food. He literally had no warning at all. He was going on holiday to a family wedding and instead of that he got on the boat and spent the last 20 days sailing here. I’m delighted, he’s done a great leg.”

The bug, which caused diarrhoea and vomiting, struck much of the crew in Sanya but Khalid caught it the night before the start.

It affected him during the in-port race and, had he sailed on, the fear was he could have infected the rest of the crew.

Khalid has been in Abu Dhabi since and Walker said one of his priorities on reaching Auckland was to speak to him.

Khalid is expected to fly to New Zealand next week and rejoin the crew once they resume preparations for the next leg.