[Source: Barcelona World Race] Veolia Environnement skippered by French sailors Roland Jourdain and Jean-Luc Nelias dismasted at 1800 GMT on Monday, 17.12.07, the skippers are unharmed, and the boat itself undamaged. Veolia Environnement, lying in third place in the Barcelona World Race, was sailing in 22 knots of wind with full mainsail and gennaker, when they were hit by a stronger 30 knot gust of wind forcing the boat to ‘nose-dive’ into a 2-3 metre wave – the mast broke suddenly 3.5 to 4 metres up from the deck. The position at the time of dismasting was 48 49.49N, 82 42.41E, approximately 1660 miles south-west of the SW tip of Australia and approximately 500 miles east of the Kerguelen Islands.

After cutting the mast away to avoid secondary damage to the boat, the skippers managed to save the boom and one of the outriggers (that support the mast) and once daylight comes will use these parts to build a jury rig to propel the boat under sail, without assistance, towards Australia. Currently however they are advancing at 5 to 6 knots under engine.

Original post by Valencia Sailing and software by Elliott Back

Related posts:

1. Jean-Pierre Dick confirms participation in the Barcelona World Race 2010 [Source: Barcelona World Race] Winner of the first edition will...
2. Estrella Damm presents its boat for the Barcelona World Race 2010 [Source: Barcelona World Race] Guillermo Altadill and Pachi Rivero will...
3. Team registration for the 2010 edition of Barcelona World Race opens on 18 June [Source: Barcelona World Race] The 2010 edition of the Barcelona...
4. Barcelona World Race re-launches The second edition of the round-the-world race starts 31 December...
5. Volvo Ocean Race fleet halfawy through to Boston [Source: Volvo Ocean Race] The halfway point on leg six...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.