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News Corp skipper steps down

Field has won the round-the-world race twice

LONDON, England -- News Corp co-skipper Ross Field has stepped down and will not be racing the sixth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race due to a bad back.

Field was quoted on the race's official Web site as saying: "I'm just in pain every day, chewing anti-inflammatories.

"I'm very disappointed that I won't be competing, but I can't carry on like this, the reality has set in."

The 52-year-old, who has sailed the race four times, was thrown from the wheel on leg two, suffering cracked ribs and a damaged vertebrae.

RESOURCES Sailing Glossary    YOUR SAY E-mail us with your views  on the world of sailing   INSIDE SAILING • Flying fish hit Volvo sailors  • Assa Abloy wins leg five  • Volvo boats prepare for leg five    AUDIO Ross Field: In pain every day (Volvo Ocean Race)

He has never fully recovered from the injuries, despite a series of pain-killing injections that saw him through the Southern Ocean during leg five.

Fellow New Zealander and team meteorologist Nick White, who has sailed several legs with News Corp, will replace Field.

News Corp, who is currently fifth in the eight-yacht race, did not say whether Field will rejoin the boat at a later date.

News Corp skipper Jez Fanstone told Reuters: "It's a shame that Ross can't sail, but he's in a lot of pain and he has to do the right thing for his back and rest it.

"He will be missed, but in Nick (White) we have someone with less sailing experience but more technical experience with the electronics -- we'll be strong."

Field, a former police detective from Wanganui, New Zealand, has won the round-the-world race twice -- as skipper of the yacht Yamaha in 1993 - 94 and as a member of the Steinlager 2 crew in 1990 - 91.

The sixth leg of the race from Miami to Baltimore/Annapolis starts on April 14.

Volvo Ocean Race overall standings after five legs:

1 Illbruck

2 Assa Abloy

3 Amer Sports One

4 Tyco

5 News Corp

6 Djuice

7 SEB

8 Amer Sports Too