SIMON Fisher is desperate that Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing get the perfect start to 2015 in front of their home supporters prior to the Volvo Ocean Race round the world epic restarting.

The Southampton-based Fisher is the navigator onboard Abu Dhabi, the boat skippered by another city-based sailor in ex-Olympian Ian Walker.

The third leg of the VOR starts from Abu Dhabi on Saturday – with Sanya in China the destination – and Walker and co are currently tied for top spot with Team Brunel and Dongfeng.

Abu Dhabi won the race’s opening leg from Alicante in Spain to Cape Town in South Africa, and were third on the second leg to Abu Dhabi in mid December.

Before the third leg starts, though, the fleet will race against each other in the in-port race tomorrow.

“Everyone’s had a chance to recuperate from the first two legs and enjoy time with their families,” said Fisher.

“Now they’re enthusiastic to get back to work and into racing again.

Although the in-port race does not score overall points, Abu Dhabi are eager to win in front of their home crowd – just like they did in 2012.

“This is our home stopover and we want to put on a good show for our fans here,” he said.

“We always get fantastic support in Abu Dhabi and we want to return the favour with a win.”

Also on board Abu Dhabi is Emirati Olympian Adel Khalid, the local hero.

He insists a win in today’s in-port race would send the crew into the third leg full of confidence.

“The stopover in Abu Dhabi has been fantastic and I’m very proud of the way the city has showcased what the UAEs has to offer,” he said.

“I remember the noise of the crowds cheering us on in the last in-port race here and we need people to come down and do the same again.”

Abu Dhabi will rest Australian trimmer and helmsman Phil Harmer for the third leg to allow him more time to recover after injuring his left wrist and contracting a virus on leg two.

Abu Dhabi performance director and five-time VOR veteran Neal McDonald, based in Hamble, will replace him.

At 4,670 nautical miles, the passage from Abu Dhabi to Sanya – an island off the Chinese south coast – is the shortest in the race so far.

However, Fisher says it will be challenging for the navigators.

“It’s a very complex course, with a lot of coastal sailing and thermally driven breezes to deal with,” he said.

The first challenge facing the crews will be trying to get out of the Arabian Gulf’s light winds and strong currents.

“It will be a bit like sailing in the Mediterranean,” he said.

“We are all conscious that you can’t win the leg on the first night, but you could lose it.

“We will be focusing on getting away from Abu Dhabi with the lead group and then staying with that pack as much as possible.”

The three top teams are all tied after two legs on four points (points being awarded depending on where you finish – one for a win, two for second and so on).

Spanish boat MAPFRE, including Hampshire pair Sam Goodchild and Rob Greenhalgh, are fourth on 11 points.

All-female crew Team SCA – skippered by Hamble’s Sam Davies – and Team Vestas are next on 12 points.

The women have twice finished sixth out of the seven boats, while Team Vestas did not finish the second leg after running aground some 230 nautical miles northeast of Mauritius.

The third leg should take about three weeks to complete.