Emirates Team NZ out of Extreme 40 regatta after serious collision
by Sail-World on 16 Oct 2011
Emirates Team NZ suffer damage to their port hull - 15th October 2011. Extreme Sailing Series 2011 - Act 8. Almeria. Spain
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Emirates Team New Zealand has withdrawn from the Extreme Sailing Series Almeria regatta, being sailed in Spain, following a collision in the second to last race of Day 4.
The yacht was holed in the port hull and started taking on water forcing the crew to retire from the race. No one was hurt.
Skipper Adam Beashel said: 'We were comfortably sailing on starboard tack with Groupe Edmond de Rothschild behind us. We were not paying much attention to them, assuming they would dip us. At the last second I saw them bow down trying to go behind us, but there just wasn’t any room.
'There was a loud bang as they went into our transom. Unfortunately it’s not going to be an overnight fix, so this is the end of the regatta for us.'
Beashel said: 'We can only hope that we have done enough for redress to allow us to salvage something for the season.
'It was great to have some wind today but when you are racing in such a confined place, with brick walls on three sides, a lot of things start to happen pretty quickly. Boat speeds are up and accidents can be very damaging.'
Skipper of Groupe Edmond de Rothschild Pierre Pennec said: 'Luna Rossa was on our right and we were trying to avoid the collision, but Luna Rossa was not giving us any water and we couldn’t avoid the contact with Emirates Team New Zealand.
'I went to discuss with CJ [Paul Campbell-James helmsman on Luna Rossa] when we were back on the pontoon because we are all making some mistakes on the water, but there is no point to break the boats. I’m not really happy and I’m really sorry for Emirates Team New Zealand.'
Extreme Sailing Series Act 8, Almeria, Spain, standings after 24 races (24.10.11)
1 Alinghi (SUI) 187 points
2 Luna Rossa (ITA) 169 points
3 Groupe Edmond de Rothschild (FRA) 162 points
4 The Wave, Muscat (OMA) 159 points
5 Oman Air (OMA) 157 points
6 Red Bull Extreme Sailing (AUT) 155 points
7 Team GAC Pindar (GBR) 144 points
8 Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) 142 points
9 Team Extreme (EUR) 100 points
10 Niceforyou (ITA) 94 points
11 Team TILT (SUI) 93 points
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