Lymington yachtsman Jason Carrington says he hopes to return to the Volvo Ocean Race having recuperated from the illness that ruled him out of the fourth leg.

Carrington was taken ill during the third leg from Sydney to Auckland and came to England to be treated for a urinary infection. He returned to New Zealand to resume his place on Assa Abloy for the gruelling fourth leg through the Southern Ocean to Rio de Janeiro but hours before departing, the 33 year-old suffered a relapse and withdrew.

He stayed in Auckland for a week then flew back to Lymington where he has been undergoing tests. On Monday, he will have the results confirmed but has been told his condition is treatable and can plan to rejoin Assa for the 4,450 nm leg from Rio to Miami starting on March 9.

"I am feeling much better - even when I went back to Auckland I knew everything was not quite right but I have been back at the gym and getting stronger," said Carrington this week.

He has kept a close eye on Assa's progress, following their victory in the third leg and remains hopeful the last 1200 nm of this stage will see his boat, currently in fifth place, move into podium contention.

With just 40 miles separating five boats in the middle of the fleet, there is every chance that his talented skipper Neal McDonald can pull back miles and time to achieve a top three position but Carrington admits it has not been easy watching from a distance and unable to contribute.

"I had no choice in backing out which makes it a little easier I suppose," he said.

"It would have been hard if I had felt I could have gone but it would also have been a disaster. I have had a few e-mails from Neal and they tell me they are missing me which is good.

"I am really looking forward to getting back though I will leave it until the end of the month before I go," he added.