China's Dongfeng Race Team retook the lead on the treacherous fifth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race on Thursday, just 48 hours after the boat nearly capsized in the middle of the Southern Ocean.

The 6,776-nautical mile stage from Auckland to Itajain in southeast Brazil is reckoned to be the toughest of the entire nine-month marathon offshore event.

In the last race in 2011-12, two of the six-vessel fleet failed to reach their destination and had to make pit stops for repairs.