THE third leg of the Volvo Ocean Race starts on Boxing Day as the fleet takes its place alongside the starters of the 650-mile ocean racing classic, the Sydney to Hobart Race.

Two gruelling days at sea, in which the fleet cross the Bass Strait then head south into the Southern Ocean, will be followed by a three-hour pit stop in Hobart.

Then the VOR crews slip their moorings again for another 1,400-nautical-mile slog to Auckland, where they should arrive in early January.

The crew on Team Tyco, which include Steve Hayles, Gerry Mitchell, Tim Powell and Guy Salter, all from the Solent region, are relieved to be back in business after having to abandon their leg two campaign three days out of Cape Town with a broken rudder.

They repaired the boat's rudder in record time - two days - then carried out rigorous sail testing and training programme to make up for six weeks of lost time.

But, with seven legs of the race left, each worth equal points - maximum of eight per leg - Tyco are in with a chance of a final podium position.

Kohn Kostecki's German contender illbruck leads the way with Lymington yachtsman Jez Fan-stone second in Team Newscorp.

Hamble husband-and-wife team Neal and Lisa McDon-ald are in sixth and eighth positions respectively in Assa Abloy and Amer Sports Two.

Overall standings (after two legs): 1 illbruck 16pts, 2 Newscorp 12, 3 Amer Sports One 11, 4 Team SEB 10, 5 Dragon Djuice 7, 6 Assa Abloy 7, 7 Team Tyco 6 pts, 8 Amer Sports Two 3.