Please select your home edition
Edition
PredictWind - Routing 728x90 TOP

GUYOT environnement - Team Europe: No time to lose

by Offshore Team Germany 5 Mar 2023 07:03 PST 5 March 2023
The crew makes it happen to bring the yacht safely back to Cape Town © Felix Diemer / GUYOT environnement - Team Europe

GUYOT environnement - Team Europe has reached Cape Town and brought the yacht safely back to port after the suspension of the third leg of The Ocean Race.

The crew experienced four days of tension after delamination of a hull bottom panel was detected 600 nautical miles from Cape Town in the Southern Ocean. With careful sailing through initially heavy seas and later shallow water, and with a makeshift repair, they managed to return to port without outside help. In the meantime, the yacht has been craned out of the water so that investigations and the drawing up of a repair plan can begin. Meanwhile, the sailing crew is already looking ahead, formulating the firm intention to return to the race with full power.

In the middle of the night on Sunday, crew and yacht were met by the shore crew at the pontoon in Cape Town. And after docking, no time was lost. Immediately, preparations began so that the yacht could be craned at 8am on Sunday morning as scheduled. Now the damaged area will be opened and the rest of the hull will be subjected to NDT (non-destructive testing). After that, the repair plan can be designed.

Meanwhile, the sailing team is drawing up the plan for the next stages. A re-entry into the third leg of The Ocean Race is very unlikely, even with a very quick repair. With the late arrival in Itajaí/Brazil, there would be no time to lift the yacht out of the water after the gruelling journey through the Southern Ocean.

"We want to join the fleet in Itajaí as soon as possible," says skipper Benjamin Dutreux. "We are happy that the team was expecting us here. Everyone wants the boat back in the water as soon as possible. We now have to wait for the investigations and see how long the repairs will take." It was a long return to Cape Town as the situation meant it was not possible to go faster than ten knots.

Looking back to the moment when the damage was registered, co-skipper Robert Stanjek once again explains the drama of the situation: "We also have to speak of luck that it happened to us at that time. A few days later, in the middle of the Southern Ocean, there would hardly have been a chance to turn back. Now we would have even been within helicopter range. It was spooky to see the movements of the ground on an area of two square metres. When that opens up, it's hard to get the ship dry." Now, however, the focus is on the future: "We briefly thought about returning to the leg. But that is unrealistic. We are now planning the next legs from Itajaí. The entire team pool wants to put itself at the service of the best performance. First of all, we have to put together a crossing crew for Brazil. The crossing will take 12 to 16 days. After that, it is a matter of getting the best out of the race that is still possible. We still want to show that we can perform."

Related Articles

Pip Hare joins Canada Ocean Racing
Sailing alongside Canadian skipper Scott Shawyer for The Ocean Race Europe Canada Ocean Racing is excited to announce that British offshore sailor Pip Hare will join their Be Water Positive campaign for the 2025 edition of The Ocean Race Europe. Posted on 30 Apr
Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy returns
With the introduction of the high-performance TP52 class The prestigious Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy is set to return for its sixth edition from July 4-6, 2025, promising a thrilling weekend of top-tier sailing in one of Europe's most scenic and challenging maritime locations, Cascais. Posted on 24 Mar
The Ocean Race Europe to make stop in Nice, France
Visiting the Mediterranean coast of France for the first time this summer The Ocean Race Europe, the premiere fully-crewed, offshore sailing race for the foiling IMOCA Class, will visit the Mediterranean coast of France for the first time this summer. Posted on 13 Mar
The Ocean Race Europe will race into Portsmouth
Back in the game for the IMOCA race in the summer of 2025 The Ocean Race Europe, an offshore sailing race for the foiling IMOCA class, will include Portsmouth on the south coast of England, among its six stopovers. Posted on 16 Sep 2024
Volvo Cars and The Ocean Race extend partnership
With a joint mission on ocean health Volvo Cars and The Ocean Race both share the strong commitment to a more sustainable future and to contribute and deliver actual change where it's needed, including in the restoration and preservation of natural ecosystems and biodiversity. Posted on 28 Aug 2024
Franck Cammas awarded 2024 Magnus Olsson Prize
French 'sailor of the decade' is recognised for his spirit and impact on the sport Franck Cammas, the incredible French sailing champion, has earned another important accolade as he is named the winner of the 2024 Magnus (Mange) Olsson Prize. Posted on 9 Aug 2024
Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy concludes
The festival of sailing was contested by 700 sailors battling across seven classes The annual Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy, which took place in Cascais, Portugal, came to a close on Sunday evening after two days of close and intense racing. Posted on 9 Jul 2024
Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy Preview
700 sailors ready to race in the 5th edition The annual Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy event is set to get under way this weekend from 5 to 7 July in Cascais, Portugal. Posted on 1 Jul 2024
Bernardo Freitas to skipper Racing for the Planet
In the Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy 2024 The Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team announces that former team watch captain Bernardo Freitas (POR) will lead the Team in the 2024 edition of The Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy, in July. Posted on 9 May 2024
The Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy preview
A sustainable regatta that will see sailing boats take to the Atlantic coast of Portugal Organised in partnership with the Clube Naval de Cascais, the sustainable regatta will see a large number of sailing boats take to the Atlantic coast of Portugal, to raise awareness and important funds for marine conservation programs. Posted on 24 Apr 2024
C-Tech 2021 SnuffAir 728x90 BOTTOMMaritimo 2023 S-Series FOOTERExposure Marine