Spindrift Dismasted on Way to Start of World Record Bid

15th January 2018

Spindrift has been dismasted and is under tow back to port this evening. The crew is safe and sound

At about 1600h (CET) today, Monday 15 January 2018, Spindrift 2 was sailing just off Point St Matthieu and Camaret in Brittany on her way to the start line of the Jules Verne Trophy, when she dismasted.

At the time the 40m trimaran was sailing at 15-18 knots of boat speed in 30 knot westerly winds and in three metre seas. Spindrfit 2 had two reefs in the main and the J3 (ORC).

spindrift dismasted Dismasted Spindrift is towed back to port

Yann Guichard, skipper of the Maxi Spindrift 2 says: "The crew is safe and sound. Everything happened so fast. The mast fell to the leeward of the boat. The conditions were not so extreme. It's too early to know exactly what happened. We had to drop the rigging to save the boat and prepare it for towing. Operations are currently underway to recover it.”

Spindrift 2 will now return to Brest and is currently under tow and expected to arrive later this evening.

As Afloat.ie reported earlier, Spindrift 2 was on its way to the start line for the Jules Verne Trophy round the world record between Ushant (France) and Lizard Point (England). The crew of 12 is led by skipper Yann Guichard (FRA).

Published in Offshore

Tagged under

Jules Verne Trophy

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