Please select your home edition
Edition
Switch One Design

Volvo Ocean Race- No Easter Break for GAC Pindar and Southern Spars

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com NZL on 8 Apr 2015
The spare rig gets loaded aboard the Maersk Brani and will be freighted to Philadelphia on the east coast of the USA Southern Spars
Southern Spars received an urgent call on the Thursday before Easter, from Volvo Ocean Race HQ in Alicante, Spain, to get a spare mast on a ship that weekend.

Richard Thorpe of TNL GAC Pindar was immediately on the case, leading a logistical mission for the team at TNL GAC Pindar Ltd.

The spare Volvo Ocean 65 mast that has been stored in Auckland for the past few months, is now on the way to meet the boats in Newport. The spar has been loaded on the Maersk Brani and will be freighted to Philadelphia

The other spare mast is currently getting loaded onto a plane in the Middle East to meet Dongfeng Race Team in Itajai.

The spreaders for that mast left the factory in Auckland yesterday bound for Itajai

All going well, Dongfeng should be back on the startline at Itajai for the start of the In Port Race on April 18, and the start of Leg 6 the following day.


“Southern Spars are sending our Volvo Ocean Race Service Manager Lance Manson to Itajai for arrival over the weekend,' says Mark Hauser Director of Southern Spars.

'Lance will prepare the spare mast for Dongfeng with the Volvo Ocean Race Boatyard crew and ensure that the team re-joins the race in time for the start of Leg 6. With the spare mast already on the way, it will be the boats arrival in Itajai that could delay their progress.'

'It is still unknown what caused the breakage of the top mast, however together with Dongfeng, the Boatyard and Lance we will endeavor to find the problem and find a solution for the future.”

The same team has also sent a third, newly constructed rig from Auckland, ready for the rebuilt Team Vestas Wind when she rejoins the Race in Lisbon, Portugal.



Barton Marine Pipe GlandsC-Tech 2021 America's Cup 728x90 BOTTOMLloyd Stevenson - AC INEOS 1456x180px BOTTOM

Related Articles

2025 Dutch Water Week day 2
Some fleets are testing new race formats and scoring systems Day two of Dutch Water Week once again delivered classic Dutch autumn conditions: strong gusty winds, grey skies and occasional rain showers.
Posted today at 7:28 am
Women's Match Racing Worlds in Chicago Day 2
Teams battle challenging conditions As racing runs into sunset in Chicago The second day of racing at the 2025 World Sailing Women's Match Racing World Championship on Lake Michigan presented challenging conditions for the twelve competing teams as a gradual easterly breeze created a sloppy short swell on the course.
Posted today at 5:27 am
Womens America's Cup opportunities expand
the pathway for female athletes has never been stronger than in the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup 2024 and the inaugural Puig Women's America's Cup was announced following the publication of the Protocol for the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup in Barcelona. It was a moment not only for women's sport and equality but showed that the America's Cup was
Posted today at 1:30 am
48 hours in light airs on the cards
15th Défi Azimut Lorient Agglomération begins The two-handed Défi Azimut - Lorient Agglomération 48 Hours race set sail from the IMOCA headquarters at Lorient on 18th September, promising a tricky light airs contest for the 12 crews taking part.
Posted on 18 Sep
OK Dinghy Worlds at Lake Garda Day 4
Andrew Mills within reach of title Two more race wins from Britain's Andrew Mills places him within one race of clinching the 2025 OK Dinghy world title on Friday. He took two more emphatic race wins on Thursday on Lake Garda in the windiest conditions so far.
Posted on 18 Sep
J/105 North American Championship day 2
California Dreamin' - two San Francisco boats are dominating in lighter breeze Although they are accustomed to heavy air and hiking, two San Francisco boats are dominating in lighter breeze after five races at the J/105 North American Championship in Toronto.
Posted on 18 Sep
Big colour displays
Which would you prefer? A+T Instruments will be at the Monaco Boat Show and at the Les voiles de Saint-Tropez. Hugh will be navigating on SY Sealen B, and Pete will be navigating on SY Mariella.
Posted on 18 Sep
Exceptional Line-Up for Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez
Over 240 remarkable yachts will take to the waters of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez Over 240 remarkable yachts will take to the waters of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez from September 27 to October 5, carried by the lively winds of late September that extend the Tropezian summer with its golden light.
Posted on 18 Sep
2025 Dutch Water Week day 1
The format with ten participants and new race formats is being tested and evaluated From Wednesday 17 to Sunday 21 September, Almere is hosting the fourth edition of Dutch Water Week. This edition serves as a pilot for the Sailing Grand Slam Final (SGS).
Posted on 18 Sep
IMOCA Speed Runs in Lorient
15th Défi Azimut Lorient Agglomération kicks off Une Battle commenced in the 15th Défi Azimut Lorient Agglomération with a spectacle guaranteed from the get-go. Speed runs left, right and centre in the Courreaux de Groix, followed by a grand parade by an 11-strong fleet of IMOCAs to delight the crowds.
Posted on 18 Sep