AUCKLAND, New Zealand, March 18 -- China's team Dongfeng is relying on the spirit of its crew, though two of them young and inexperienced, to edge it into the lead in the most arduous leg of Volvo Ocean Race round-the-world competition.

The six sailing boats left Auckland Wednesday after a three-day delay caused by Tropical Cyclone Pam, which is still expected to cause problems as it dies out east of New Zealand.

The teams face a three-week crossing of the Southern Ocean -- with strong winds, deep waves and freezing temperatures -- and a rounding of the storm-ravaged Cape Horn before reaching Itajai in Brazil.

Dongfeng skipper Charles Caudrelier said the team was aware of its inexperience, with only three of the eight sailing crew having sailed Cape Horn and neither of the two on-board Chinese crew having race experience at 40 knots.

"We are prepared for this one for sure, but also we have rookies on board. They have never sailed in storm conditions and it will be their first time, so, sure, we are ready, but compared to the other boats we have less experience on board," Caudrelier told Xinhua before leaving.

Dongfeng is currently in the second place and narrowly trailing team Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, but with the Auckland-Itajai leg being the longest of the race, it could make all the difference to the scoreboard.

The two on-board Chinese crew members, Liu Xue, referred to as Black, who celebrated his 22nd birthday in Auckland, and Yang Jiru, 24, were quick learners, said the French skipper.

"We work a lot and the Chinese sailors are fantastic students and learn very quickly," Caudrelier said.

"This race is all about teamwork and we have a very good team, even if we have less experience on board. We have rookies on board, but spirit is the key, I think."

His advice to the Chinese crew members was: "Love what you do."

"Passion is important and then you can work a lot, and that's what they have done."

Black admitted that he and his team mate Yang still have a lot to learn from those more experienced sailors if they want to pursue sailing as a career and take more crucial posts in the race.

This fifth leg of the race will be followed by four more with the race expected to end in Sweden's Gothenburg in late June.

They arrived in Auckland late last month after crossing the Pacific from Sanya in China's southern island province of Hainan.