Vendee Globe - Energa, 'Gutek' bow out of the race

'Gutek on board Energa - 2012 Vendee Globe'    Robert Hajduk shuttersail.com The Vendee Globe has been nothing short of hectic for the skippers who set off from Les Sables d’Olonne and now, yet another skipper has been forced to retire. Zbigniew 'Gutek' Gutkowski, sailing on board Energa, has announced his retirement from the race. Today I need to officially announce what I’ve been thinking about for days. Being brave is not only about fighting, it is also about knowing where to stop. I know I did everything I could, working on my electronics issues for many days. I know my team and friends did their best as well. And I am extremely grateful for the huge support I got. But I can’t carry on like that. Having no autopilot means I can’t race, and if I can’t race, I have to retire. That’s a tough decision, one of toughest in my life. But that’s Vendee Globe, that’s the power of the ocean and you can’t fight it. It’s like driving at night on a road you don’t know, a road with many turns, surrounded with trees. Suddenly your lights go off and you can’t slow down. How many chances do you have to survive? That’s what is happening with my autopilot, if you replace the road and the trees with the ocean and the waves… Vendee Globe website by Zbigniew Gutkowski - 3:27 PM Wed 21 Nov 2012 GMT Click here for printer friendly version Click here to send us feedback or comments about this story. If you want to send this story to a friend, please use link below http://www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=103976 Based on your current download speed Sail-World has delivered large images (660 pixels long side.)  If you would like to see only small images (300 pixels long side) click here .  For medium sized images (500 pixels long side) click here .  If you would prefer to see text only (without pictures) click here Click for further information on 2012 Vendee Globe Related News Stories: 26 Apr 2013  Vendee Globe - Seventh edition generates benefits never reached before 09 Apr 2013  Vendee Globe - President of the French Republic receives skippers 23 Feb 2013  Vendee Globe - Di Benedetto, Team Plastique across the line + Video 21 Feb 2013  Vendee Globe - Out of the final calm and into the breeze + Video 17 Feb 2013  Vendee Globe - Tanguy de Lamotte crosses finish line + Video 17 Feb 2013  Vendee Globe - Upwind finish expected for Tanguy de Lamotte 15 Feb 2013  Vendee Globe - Final act will test two skippers still at sea + Video 13 Feb 2013  Vendee Globe - Closest finish in the race’s 24-year history 11 Feb 2013  Vendee Globe - Bertrand de Broc arrives ninth in Les Sables d’Olonne 09 Feb 2013  Vendee Globe Race - Hugo Boss makes podium with Doyle Sails

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 fax: +61 2 8076 0459 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