Telefonica Repair at Cape Horn

Team Telefónica will carry out repairs at Cape Horn without stopping on land instead of heading into Ushuaia in Argentina after refining their pit stop strategy for Leg 5.

Skipper Iker Martínez said the team's technical chief Horacio Carabelli would meet them by boat at Maxwell Bay, a move that should save them a significant amount of time as they bid to stay within striking distance of Groupama sailing team and PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG, who both rounded Cape Horn on Friday.

Once the support team have found an isolated spot, they will begin repairs on Telefónica with a view to getting them back on their way after 12 hours -- the minimum amount of time a team can suspend racing.

At current estimates, Telefónica should round Cape Horn early on Saturday.

"We've decided to make a quick stop at Cape Horn to reinforce the damaged area of the hull and be able to carry on as quickly as possible," Martínez explained.

"The area around Cape Horn is a labyrinth of islands, which on this occasion is going to help us get some shelter and allow us to work on the boat efficiently, without the boat moving and while keeping it dry.

"The rules say that if you suspend racing it has to be for a minimum of 12 hours, so we'll see if we can do the whole thing in that time. First of all, we'll check to see that the outside of the hull is intact. If that's the case, and I hope it is, we'll find a sheltered spot, just behind the island of Cape Horn, to work comfortably.

"If all goes well, we'll try to carry out the repairs without stopping on land to avoid sailing up to Ushuaia, which would mean another 100 miles. Horacio is sailing from Port Williams now in a 50-foot steel sailboat which will bring them to the cape."

Martínez said he still had hopes of catching the front two in the race, though having to stop at all had reduced their chances.

"It's a shame that we have to stop, because even with the problems we've had, the boats in front are only 15-18 hours away," said the Spaniard.

"Once we've finished the repairs we'll be aiming to get back to full speed. PUMA and Groupama may not push forward so much over the next few hours but their lead might be just too much for us to catch them before we get to Itajaí.

"But even though the gap seems insurmountable, the climb up to Brazil has some tricky points and we are likely to come across a complicated high that might shake things up, and that's given us a bit of hope that they may be stopped in their tracks and we could catch up with them.

"You can always dream that something good might happen, right?"

Telefónica are 15 points ahead of Groupama in the overall standings and need to finish at least third to be certain of keeping hold of first place.

Kallis Run Spoilt by Rain

Jacques Kallis shone on his big night at the Wanderers Stadium before an intriguing Twenty20 international between South Africa and India was spolit by rain.

The contest, which went the way of the hosts by 11 runs, was for the New Age Friendship Cup but was also serving as a tribute to Kallis, with profits going towards his foundation that provides scholarships for talented cricketers from under-privileged areas.

The all-rounder made sure he didn't miss out, hitting 61 at the top of the order as a much-changed Proteas XI smashed their way to 219-4.

However it was Colin Ingram who was the star of the show, the left-hander racing to 78 off 50 deliveries, his maiden Twenty20 international half-century.

Together with Kallis he put on a partnership of 119 for the second wicket following the early departure of opener Richard Levi for 19.

Piled on

Even when India did remove the well-set pair, the Proteas continued to pile on the runs to ease their total well beyond the 200-mark.

Debutant Farhaan Behardien made an unbeaten 20 from 11 balls while Justin Ontong hammered two huge sixes in a breezy cameo worth 22 that took him just seven deliveries to compile.

Albie Morkel came in for the final three balls of the innings when Ontong was bowled by Suresh Raina and proceeded to hit them for six, four and six, leaving the tourists with a huge target to chase down under the floodlights.

Yet they had given themselves a superb platform, reaching 71 without loss from just 7.5 overs, before a thunderstorm prevented a thrilling climax.

Gautam Gambhir was unbeaten on 49 from only 28 balls alongside opening partner Robin Uthappa (18 not out), though their efforts were still not enough to get India in front by the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Abu Dhabi Prevent Further Damage

Skipper Ian Walker supervised an incredible five-hour job that saw 30 bolts screwed through the hull of Abu Dhabi’s boat Azzam (which means 'determination' in Arabic) to prevent further damage.

In order to carry out the repair, the crew had to slow the boat to a standstill and tilt it onto its side in heavy weather so bowman Justin Slattery, lowered overboard secured to a rope and in full safety gear, could tighten the bolts on the outside of the hull.

Inside the hull, boat captain Wade Morgan and watch leader Craig Satterthwaite braced the damaged section with parts ripped from the boats bunks, stacking system and lockers.

“We’ve basically joined the skins back together with a mechanical fixing,” Walker said.

“At the moment it’s been much improved, we’ve got much less noise and it seems fairly strong.

“We’re still taking it quite easy right now.”

The damage was discovered in darkness, so the crew waited for daylight to effect repairs.

Walker praised the work of his crew, who carried out the repair in 30-knot winds and big seas, around 1,700 miles from land.

“Like always, these things bring the best out in the team and everybody played a role,” he added.

“Rob Greenhalgh ran everything on deck keeping everything steady.

“Wade and Craig oversaw the repairs down below and Justin Slattery was the man over the side on the halyard tightening the bolts.

“Everyone else was helping, there was a lot of stuff going on.”

It’s the second major repair the Abu Dhabi crew have had to carry out in Leg 5 from Auckland, New Zealand, to Itajaí, Brazil.

The team chose to return to Auckland within hours of starting the leg to repair structural damage to a bulkhead in the bow.

Walker said he was in talks with his team about how to progress, and that all options were open.

“The message is we’re in good shape,” he said.

“Right now we’re sailing with two people on deck, everyone else is down below resting.

“We’re making good progress towards the Chilean coast at the moment, north east away from the worst of the incoming weather.”

Wladimir Auctions Atlanta Medal

Ukraine's world heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko has raised $965,000 for charity by auctioning off his 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games gold medal before quickly gaining it back.

The fund for disaffected Ukrainian children, run by the 35-year-old defender of four titles and his older brother Vitali, said the Kiev event raised more than $1.45 million in total.

The medal Wladimir won against Tonga's Paea Wolfgramm in Atlanta was claimed by an unknown bidder before being returned.

"Immediately after the sale, the buyer's representative announced his wish to leave the Olympic medal in the Klitschko family," the brothers' charity foundation said in a statement.

Other items purchased at the auction included a wristwatch embedded with 412 diamonds that were shaped to look like the imprint of Vitali Klitschko's thumb.

The Klitschko family is one of the most celebrated in the ex-Soviet republic and has recently taken a more active role in opposition politics.

Vitali Klitschko heads the Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform (UDAR, meaning "punch" or "strike" in Ukrainian) party and has twice run for Kiev mayor.

The Klitschkos are fierce critics of Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych and support jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko.

Jose Says No City Special

Jose Mourinho has rubbished reports he had reached an agreement to manage Manchester City at the end of the season.

A Spanish report hinted the former Chelsea tactician was primed to return to the Premier League by replacing Roberto Mancini at the helm at the Etihad Stadium.

However, the Portuguese boss, who is under contract at the Santiago Bernabeu until the summer of 2014, insists no deal has been brokered with the title-chasing club.

The former Inter Milan tactician reiterated that he was contracted to the Spanish leaders and that any questions regarding City were without 'foundation'.

"I deny that I or anyone on my behalf has reached an agreement with City," commented Mourinho.

"I have a contract and do not have to answer questions that have no foundation."

Meanwhile, Mourinho has defended the decision to blank the media in the wake of last weekend's 1-1 draw with Villarreal, a game in which he was sent to the stands while Sergio Ramos and Mesut Ozil were sent off.

Real have previously voiced their complaints, but opted to maintain silence this time around having been criticised for being vocal.

"Last season, after the Champions League semi-finals, we said what we thought with open hearts and you lot (the media) killed us," he continued.

"You criticised us again after we criticised the referee when we were eliminated from the Copa del Rey this year.

"We wanted to avoid controversy and suspensions after facing Villarreal and that is why we didn't make any comments.

"We thought we were doing what was best, but we've been criticised again. We don't have any problems, you cause them and have to decide which of the two attitudes is better.

"You cannot accuse us of looking for controversy this time because we kept quiet. I don't know if you're fixated on me or on Real Madrid, but we're always criticised. We nevertheless believe we did the right thing and neither I nor my players said anything against the referee."