At the time of the collision, Kleinjans had the electronic see me radar equipment activated and the masthead navigation light was lit.
Damage to the yacht included a broken bowsprit and bent stanchions as Roaring Forty took the impact on her port side, but there was structural damage to the hull-deck joint and the internal, forward bulkhead. As contact was made just at or possibly slightly aft - of the commercial ships raised forecastle, Kleinjans suspects that his mast will also have made contact with the towering walls of steel as the two craft met.
The collision was a bit stupid, of course, said Kleinjans.
But you really have to be unlucky. It is a really big ocean and there were hardly any ships I dont think I saw more than five ships in two weeks.
With more than 90% of the 4,800-mile leg from Brazil to North Carolina behind him, Kleinjans then faced a period of gale-force winds in the final miles to the finish, but nursed his holed yacht home safely despite damage to a water ballast tank, the chainplates supporting the mast, and the rigging itself.
Kleinjans crossed the finish line just before 11pm last night Irish time, and now has just two weeks to ready the boat for the final leg across the Atlantic to Portugal.
The Portimao Global Race is a five-stop circumnavigation, beginning and ending in Portimao, Portugal. Kleinjans is the only remaining competitor in the single-handed category, with three entries surviving in the double-handed category.
Kleinjans set the solo Round Ireland record in October 2005, making the circuit in just 4 days, 1 hour and 52 minutes. His record, which still stands, bettered the record set by Irishman Mick Liddy just weeks before.
Portimal Global Race: www.portimaorace.com
