|
Sail-World.com : Velux 5 Oceans - Keel repairs begin for Operon Racing
Velux 5 Oceans - Keel repairs begin for Operon Racing
|
|
|
'Operon Racing - Velux 5 Oceans'
Ainhoa Sanchez
|
Volvo Ocean Race - Zbigniew ‘Gutek’ Gutkowski’s Eco 60 Operon Racing has been lifted out of the water in Uruguay for keel repairs ahead of ocean sprint four of the Velux 5 Oceans. A composite part surrounding the keel pins broke during ocean sprint three allowing the keel to move several millimeters.
The Operon Racing team took her from her berth in Punta del Este marina bound for Piriapolis, around 18 kilometers west. The boat yard in Piriapolis is the only one with a hoist powerful enough to haul the 19-year-old Eco 60 out of the water.
Gutek first noticed the problems with the keel as he approached Cape Horn after sailing more than 4,000 nautical miles from Wellington, New Zealand. He reported hearing a knocking sound. Later it was discovered the composite part covering the keel pins had broken, allowing the keel to move by a few millimeters.
Deciding to press on towards the finish line in Punta del Este, Uruguay, Gutek was forced to race with his keel fully canted to reduce its movement. Amazingly, Gutek clung to second position after a photo finish which saw Operon Racing beat Chris Stanmore-Major’s Spartan across the line by just 40 seconds.
'I am hoping that once the keel is repaired Operon Racing will be back up to full speed,' Gutek said. 'With the problems with the keel, rounding Cape Horn was a nervous time for me. It will be nice knowing that in the next sprint I can push Operon Racing to her limits again.'
Although the Eco 60 class rules state yachts cannot be lifted out of the water during the duration of the race, there is an exception if the lift is necessary on the grounds of safety. Operon Racing is expected to spend around five days out of the water while the keel work is completed ahead of the next sprint to Charleston, USA, which starts on March 27.
Velux 5 Oceans
by Velux 5 Oceans
Click on the FB Like link to post this story to your FB wall
http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?nid=81224
6:35 PM Thu 10 Mar 2011 GMT
Click here for printer friendly version
Click here to send us feedback or comments about this story.
Click for further information on
2010-11 Velux 5 Oceans Race
Related News Stories:
MORE STORIES ...
|
|
|
Our Advertisers are committed to our sport, please support them!
This site and its contents are © Copyright TetraMedia Pty. Ltd and/or the original author, photographer etc. All Rights Reserved.
Photographs are copyright by law. If you wish to use or buy a photograph you must contact the photographer directly (there is a hyperlink in most cases to their website, or do a Google search.) with your request.
Please do not contact
Sail-World.com
as we cannot give permission for use of other photographer’s images.
Only if the photographer named on the image is Sail-world.com, Powerboat-world.com, Marinebusiness-world.com or NZBoating-World.com.
Contact us
.
Ph: +61 2 8006 1873
or complete our
feedback form
Contact us
.
View our Privacy Policy.
[ Go Home]
[ Banner Advertising Specification]
[Bot Archive ]
Customised news feeds -Marine Industry companies, Clubs and Associations have their own customised version of our news feed on their website.
Look_here_to_see_examples
|
CLD
| | |
