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Volvo Ocean Race- Dramatic images and video of Vestas Wind on reef

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com/nz on 5 Dec 2014
Volvo Ocean Race have released the first images and video from when Team Vestas Wind struck the coral reef off the Cargados Carajos Shoals, some 200 miles north-east of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean.

In the extended video we cover the start at Cape Town, then jump 10 days to the time when Team Vestas Wind was sailing past the Cargados Carajos Shoals in the southern Indian Ocean, at a speed of 19kts.

Then BANG...and the boat experienced a terrain closure.

The video is captioned and does contain explicit language on a couple of occasions. At the end, skipper Chris Nicholson gives a brief overview of the incident and where to next.

From the flyover by the Coastguard the boat appears to be pinned high and dry on the reef and other than her stern section, at that stage was not too badly damaged.







Team Vestas Wind stuck hard on the Cargados Carajos Shoals © Volvo Ocean Race http://www.volvooceanrace.com
Team Vestas Wind stuck hard on the Cargados Carajos Shoals © Volvo Ocean Race http://www.volvooceanrace.com


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On Saturday, November 29, Team Vestas Wind grounded on the Cargados Carajos Shoals, Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean. © Volvo Ocean Race http://www.volvooceanrace.com
On Saturday, November 29, Team Vestas Wind grounded on the Cargados Carajos Shoals, Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean. © Volvo Ocean Race http://www.volvooceanrace.com


St Brandon site of the terrain closure by Team Vestas Wind © SW
St Brandon site of the terrain closure by Team Vestas Wind © SW

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