Can Holcim PRB & Allagrande Mapei use the Kiel Canal to get to Portsmouth in The Ocean Race Europe?

Holcim PRB damaged during The Ocean Race Europe start in Kiel, Germany on August 10 © Vincent Curutchet / The Ocean Race Europe

While the five IMOCA yachts still racing in Leg 1 of The Ocean Race Europe are closing in on Portsmouth, the race is on for Holcim PRB and Allagrande Mapei to do their repairs after their crash at the start.

Leg 2 starts on 17th August, so they will need to be speedy to get their in time. Could the 98 kilometre Kiel Canal to the North Sea be the answer?

Map courtesy of Maximilian Dörrbecker (Chumwa) - own work, using OpenStreetMap data
Kiel Canal photo of Locks at Brunsbüttel couresy of Ralf Roletschek / www.Roletschek.at