Southampton sailor Ian Walker is all too familiar with the dangers of the South China Sea – where sailors on the Volvo Ocean Race are currently battling rough seas.

Walker, the skipper on board the Azzam Abu Dhabi on the round the world epic, sustained serious damage while sailing the Straits of Luzon on the way into Philippine Sea during the 2009 edition of the race during storm force conditions of 50 knots and 10m waves.

It eventually forced the Green Dragon team, who Walker skippered, inshore to seek shelter from the horrendous conditions.

Fast forward six years and Walker is once more battling some of the toughest conditions so far in this year’s race.

At the start of stage four, from Chinese port, Sanya to Auckland in New Zealand, the fleet of six identical Volvo Ocean 65s, as of yesterday evening, were facing unrelenting and unpredictable conditions as they head between Taiwan and the Philippines.

The 5,264-nautical mile trip to New Zealand, which will take around three-and-a-half weeks to complete, is likely to have of the most testing wind and sea conditions yet.

As of learlier this evening, Chinese team Dongfeng are leading the way, Walker and crew are second, MAPFRE are in third, Team Alvimedica are in fourth, while Team Brunel and the all-female Team SCA boat, including Hampshire’s Sam Davies and Dee Caffari, make up the final two positions.