Volvo Ocean Race

Team Sanya asked locals to get the drinks on ice on Sunday as they prepare to cross the finish line at their home port within the next few hours.

Andrés Soriano/Team Sanya/Volvo Ocean Race Andrés Soriano/Team Sanya/Volvo

With the thought of home in mind the crew have hit their stride and are charging at increasing speed towards the finish where thousands of locals are expected to welcome them.

In the three hours to 0100 UTC on Sunday the easterly tending breeze had swung from 70 degrees to 100, putting Sanya in her groove on the straight-line reaching course to Sanya Bay.

The dramatic acceleration has increased Sanya’s average speed to more than 14 knots and with just over 110 nautical miles remaining the crew are expected to arrive to a hero’s welcome at about 1800 local time, 1000 UTC.

The excitement of the 11 crewmen on board Sanya is also reaching fever pitch, especially for Team Sanya’s Chinese crewman Teng “Tiger” Jiang He who is looking forward to showing off his home.

“You can feel that the whole crew, not just me are very excited to get there,’’ Tiger said. “It is our home city and I am looking forward to showing my crew a bit of my country,” he said.

“There really are no words to describe, I can’t even pretend to know what to expect, but I know right now that it will be a very proud moment.”

Media Crew Member Andres Soriano said the crew and Sanya were without doubt in full racing mode after encountering a problem with the supporting structure for two of their winches on Saturday.

Soriano said the night brought some steady pressure and the sea state had settled, leaving the crew’s thoughts to drift to the luxuries waiting on land.

“Without a doubt we are all looking for a shower and a shave, and definately a cold tasty beverage and some good food," he said.

“Some of us on board have not touched land in over a month as we were living on big day boats in the Maldives and so to touch terra firma will be a very welcome and somewhat weird feeling.

“I would not be surprised if our sea legs get the better of us after a few cold beers. Looking forward to seeing everyone in Sanya by the end of the day. Get the beverages on ice, we are coming.”