Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Gitana Eighty dismasts...

Gitana Eighty dismasts, Loïck Peyron safe and sound

After sailing at the head of the fleet in this Vendée Globe 2008-2009 for over a month, Loïck Peyron called his shore crew early this afternoon to announce that he had dismasted. The incident occurred shortly after 1400 hours this Wednesday 10th December, whilst Gitana Eighty was in 3rd position in a close, full-on race. Down below when the mast fell, Loïck Peyron is safe and sound. Currently at 49°36 south and 52°47 east, the monohull equipped by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild is making headway at a reduced pace. Loïck Peyron, in collaboration with his shore crew, is considering what approach they will take. As things stand the remaining boom should enable him to make a jury rig, but the direction to take in order to make port still has to be decided.

In a succinct statement, Loïck Peyron quickly went over the circumstances of his dismasting: “There was 30 knots of breeze and Gitana Eighty was under one reef mainsail and solent. There was no reason for the boat to be under pressure and everything was going very well aboard when the mast fell violently without any warning. I was down below when I heard a massive bang and when I went up on deck I noticed that I no longer had a mast. I still have the boom and we’re currently reflecting on how to proceed.”

Further information will be communicated to you this evening. -Find all the latest about the Gitana Team at www.gitana-team.com