The curse of the broken mast struck the Volvo Ocean race fleet once again on Monday as PUMA Ocean Racing became the latest crew to unfortunately retire from leg one, leaving just three boats remaining on the surge south to Cape Town.
The American crew, skippered by Ken Read, suffered damage to one of their masts whilst sailing in 23 knots of breeze yet they were still hoping they could continue their participation in what has been a gruelling leg thus far. Sadly for the 12-strong team aboard Mar Mostro their faint hopes were dashed and they subsequently withdrew.
However, Read reported that none of the crew were injured, but he admitted morale was at an all time low amongst his ranks.
“As you can imagine, there aren't a lot of smiles right now. To say we are disappointed would be the understatement of the century.
“This is the saddest and most disappointed 11 people on Earth.”
The PUMA team had been involved in an epic tussle with Team Telefonica in the preceding days leading up to the catastrophe; but the de-masting 2,150 miles shy of Cape Town has left them heading towards the small volcanic island of Tristan de Cunha, desperately hoping that a solution can be reached in order for the crew to prepare for the second leg between Cape Town and the Chinese port of Sanya.
With just 31nm separating the two leaders before the dis-masting in the South Atlantic there will no doubt be a bitter taste in the mouths of all involved with the PUMA crew; but despite this they are working closely with their on-shore team to strategise the best way to get the boat to Cape Town.
After tireless work from the on-shore team, as well as Volvo Ocean Race control,on Wednesday a complicated fuel transfer has enabled the luck-ridden crew to motor towards Tristan de Cunha; and it is expected that they will reach the small island in the next three to four days.
When they arrive on the little-known island they will be greeted by another boat dispatched from Cape Town; it is at this point where the race to be sufficiently prepared for the next leg really begins and Read will no doubt hope for a smooth transition to enable his crew to get back in the contest.
On the fuel transfer, the American skipper seemed delighted at how such an elaborate plan came to fruition, and he said, “I cannot believe that actually worked. That is the most nerve-wracking thing I have ever done.”
As a smile materialised on the face of Read he took time to praise the efforts of the crew on board the 257-metre cargo ship, ZIM Monaco, that greatly enhanced his team' chances of getting back in the race, describing them as “unbelievable” and “our new best friends.”
The response from their rivals has been one of great sympathy; with even rival Team Telefonica skipper Iker Martinez admitting, “It wasn't a nice feeling at all to leave our closest rivals throughout the whole leg behind like that, 2,000 miles from the nearest coast and with no mast."
Their withdrawal from leg 1 leaves just half the fleet that departed from Alicante two-and-a-half weeks ago in tact; with Team Telefonica, CAMPER and Groupama slugging it out in the South Atlantic a mere 2,000 miles short of their eagerly anticipated arrival in South Africa.
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