A shattered mast has dashed British sailor Pip Hare’s bid to complete the grueling 24,000-nautical-mile (44,000km) Vendee Globe for a second time, while New Europe Hungarian skipper Szabolcs Weores also pulled out due to irreparable damage to his boat, organizers of the solo, nonstop and unassisted round-the-world sailing competition said on Monday.
Fifty-year-old Hare dismasted her 60ft yacht Medallia about 800 nautical miles south of Australia, ending a solo journey that had begun on Nov. 10.
“It all feels pretty raw right now. I am so devastated,” she said. “This is four years of preparation and planning and four years of development. The boat and I were in really great shape, having a really good race and we were about halfway round the world. So, to dismast now is really brutal.”
Photo: AFP
Hare, who had been locked in a tight race for 15th place with French rival Romain Attanasio (Fortinet-Best Western) and chasing Benjamin Dutreux (Guyot Environnement-Water Family), set up an emergency “jury rig” to set off for safety.
“I’m roughly halfway along the longitude of Australia on day 35 of the race and this morning my boat Medallia took off on a wave and when it landed the mast broke into two pieces and fell down and it’s put an end to my second solo round the world race,” Hare said. “I’m about 700 miles from the closest piece of land and I’ve already managed to do a jury rig with one of the bits that I salvaged.”
“I’ve got some sail up and I’m making way slowly towards the land. Security-wise I’m absolutely fine, the boat’s fine and we are making our way to the shore,” she added. “I’m just really devastated, it was the greatest edition of the Vendee Globe yet. It was a highlight of my career and for it to end in this way is really punishing.”
Photo: Reuters
Weores, who had been in 38th place, was yesterday expected to reach Cape Town after sustaining damage to his IMOCA yacht shroud, a key component of the rigging that supports the mast. It broke over the weekend while Weores was sailing on a port tack in winds exceeding 40 knots (74kph), about 700 miles from the Cape of Good Hope.
Professional rigger Weores, competing in the Vendee Globe for the first time, attempted multiple repairs to stabilize the mast, but none provided the safety assurance needed.
“This was one of the hardest decisions of my life,” Weores said. “I’ve invested years of effort into the Vendee Globe with the dream of completing this journey. Having to step away now is devastating.”
Elsewhere, Antoine Cornic (Human Immobilier, 33rd) anchored near Saint-Paul Island in rough seas to repair his mainsail traveler.
Adding to the drama, Benjamin Ferre (Monnoyeur — DUO for a JOB) faced a harrowing night after his keel ram suffered significant damage.
“These were the most intense hours I’ve ever experienced on a boat,” Ferre said.
After being jolted awake by a loud bang, Ferre discovered oil sprayed across his boat and the keel hanging to leeward. The hydraulic ram holding the keel had exploded, threatening to damage the hull further.
Working for 12 hours with guidance from fellow competitor Jean Le Cam, Ferre stabilize the situation.
“For much of the night, I thought my Vendee Globe was over,” he said, exhausted, but resolute.
At the front of the fleet, Charlie Dalin (MACIF Sante Prevoyance) continued to lead, crossing the anti-meridian ahead of Yoann Richomme (PAPREC — ARKEA), who was closing in, just 40 miles back and sailing faster.
The race, renowned as one of the sport’s toughest challenges, began in Les Sables-d’Olonne, France, on Nov. 10 and takes competitors through the Atlantic Ocean, around the southern capes of Africa, Australia and South America, and back up the Atlantic to the starting point.
Sailors face some of the most remote and hostile conditions on Earth as they battle to complete the iconic course.
Frenchman Yannick Bestaven won the last edition, finishing in 80 days, three hours and 44 minutes.
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