Volvo 60, SEB, Joins the Damage List with Rudder Troubles

by Peter Campbell on 28 Dec 2001 The Swedish yacht Seb, one of two Swedish boats in the Volvo Ocean Race division of the 57th CYCA Sydney Hobart Race, has suffered rudder damage and is under jury or emergency steering in Bass Strait.

Seb reported to Volvo Ocean Race officials in Hobart at 7 am this morning that the main rudder was damaged and had been replaced by an emergency rudder.

At that stage she was about 70 nautical miles from the Eddystone Point on the North East Coast of Tasmania and sailing in a 15 knot south westerly breeze.

SEB, which is skippered by Gunner Krantz, was lying fourth overall in the Volvo Ocean Race, and seventh in the Sydney Hobart fleet, as the leaders crossed Bass Strait.

In a statement issued this morning, Volvo Ocean Race officials in Hobart explained that the rudder case came away from the boat leaving a hole in the bottom of the hull which the crew had plugged.

This had stopped the water ingress and although there was structural damage to the boat she was in no danger of sinking.

The incident happened at 7 am this morning with all crew well and working closely with their shore team to obtain a replacement rudder.

She is the third VO 60 to suffer damage in the rugged 630 nautical mile Sydney Hobart.

Amer Sports Too, with its all-women crew, is also under jury rig, with reduced sails heading for Hobart, after breaking her forestay late yesterday. At this morning's race reporting sked, Amer Sports Two was crossing Bass Strait with 330 nautical miles still to sail to the finish.

Amer Sports One, in eight position, also reported late yesterday that she had problems with her water ballast pumping system, a feature that enables these yachts to use water as moveable ballast depending on the direction the yachts are sailing.

Further information: Peter Campbell 03-62349183, 03-62349238

Website: s2h@tas.gov.au