• Team SCA sailors arrive to Auckland harbour after finishing Leg 4 from Sanya on February 28, 2015 in Auckland, New Zealand. Xaume Olleros / Getty Images
    Team SCA sailors arrive to Auckland harbour after finishing Leg 4 from Sanya on February 28, 2015 in Auckland, New Zealand. Xaume Olleros / Getty Images
  • Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing arrive in Auckland in second place. Their runner-up finish moves the crew top of the overall standings. Courtesy: Volvo Ocean Race
    Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing arrive in Auckland in second place. Their runner-up finish moves the crew top of the overall standings. Courtesy: Volvo Ocean Race
  • Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing crew celebrate with the UAE flag after claiming second place in leg 4. Xaume Olleros / Getty Images
    Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing crew celebrate with the UAE flag after claiming second place in leg 4. Xaume Olleros / Getty Images
  • An Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing crew member greets his daughter after the fleet arrived in Auckland. Xaume Olleros / Getty Images
    An Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing crew member greets his daughter after the fleet arrived in Auckland. Xaume Olleros / Getty Images

Volvo Ocean Race fleet arrive in Auckland at the end of leg 4 - in pictures


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After more than 5,000 nautical miles (nm) and more than 20 days at sea, the Volvo Ocean Race fleet sailed into Auckland on Saturday afternoon.

Spanish crew Mapfre took the chequered flag, with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing and Dongfeng Race Team finishing second and third respectively in what was the tightest finish in Volvo Ocean Race history.

The lead changed hands numerous times during the leg from Sanya, and Mapfre edged out Abu Dhabi by just four minutes with Dongfeng a further four minutes behind.

The sailors now have two weeks off before the start of the fifth leg from Auckland to Itajai in Brazil.

Here are a selection of the best images from their arrival into Auckland.

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