Emily Nagel marked her return to competing with Team AkzoNobel by helping the Dutch Volvo Ocean Race syndicate earn a spot on the podium at the New Zealand Herald In Port Race in Auckland.

The Bermudian sailor and her team-mates finished runners-up behind winners Dongfeng Race Team, of China, during Saturday’s race.

“Led for most of the race after a poor start but lost it at the final mark so finished in second,” Nagel told The Royal Gazette.

Team AkzoNobel went into the race with momentum having won the practice race the previous day. Nagel and her team-mates are third in the overall Volvo Ocean Race in port series standings, ten points behind Spanish leaders Mapfre.

Team AkzoNobel were the first team to arrive in Auckland after narrowly winning the sixth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race after a difficult passage from Hong Kong. It was their first leg victory in 11-stage race around the world. Nagel has not competed with her team-mates aboard their 65-foot one-design racing yacht since bruising her back during a mishap on the third leg of the race from Cape Town, South Africa, to Melbourne, Australia, in January. But she has been confirmed for leg seven of the Volvo Ocean Race from Auckland to Itajai, Brazil to start on Sunday on her 24th birthday.

The next leg is the longest of the race, which takes the fleet through some of the coldest, roughest ocean in the world.

“Great to be back on the water and very excited to be back on-board, especially for this legendary leg around Cape Horn,” Nagel said. “I’ve spent a lot of the time over the past two months in physio and in the gym getting as strong as possible for the race.

“Looking forward to starting next Sunday, March 18th, my 24th birthday!”

Team AkzoNobel are fourth in the overall Volvo Ocean Race standings, behind leaders Mapfre, Dongfeng and Hong Kong’s Sun Hung Kai Scallywag.