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Agence France-Presse

Joint leaders of the Volvo Ocean Race, Dongfeng Race Team, were dramatically forced to quit the fifth leg early on Monday when their mast broke in the Southern Ocean.
The incident could hardly have happened at a worse position for the Chinese boat, 240 nautical miles from Cape Horn in southern Chile, one of the most remote places on earth.
The mast broke without warning, in about 30 knots of wind
Charles Caudrelier, Dongfeng Race Team skipper
The breakage in the top section of the mast means that the team cannot properly manoeuvre the boat.
No members of the nine-strong crew on board were injured.
The boat’s French skipper, Charles Caudrelier, sent a message to his team, saying he was “gutted” by the breakage.
His team of Chinese rookies had been joint leaders of the nine-month, offshore marathon race with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing at the halfway stage.
“The mast broke without warning, in about 30 knots of wind,” said Caudrelier.
“We are unable to sail safely on starboard tack, but we are able to make reasonable speed on port tack. We will head towards Ushuaia, Argentina, and assess our options.”This is Caudrelier’s second appearance, but first as a skipper, in the Volvo Ocean Race. He was a helmsman and trimmer for the Groupama team in the 2011-12 edition.
The team were on their way to Itajam in southeastern Brazil, from Auckland, New Zealand, on the 6,776 nautical mile leg, the most treacherous stage of the race, when the accident happened. The team led the fleet out of Auckland.
Five days ago, Dongfeng were one of three teams to keel over in rough conditions. The others were the all-women crew of Team SCA (Sweden) and Mapfre (Spain). Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing reported “a massive wipeout”, although it had not been pitched on its side like the other three.
Volvo Ocean Race organisers yesterday said they had alerted maritime safety organisations and were doing everything they could to assist the crew.
Dongfeng now face a race against time to have the boat fixed and transported from Ushuaia to Itajam ready for the next leg to Newport, Rhode Island.
On January 27, Dongfeng became the first Chinese boat to win a leg in the 41-year history of the Volvo Ocean Race – a 24-day, 4,670-nautical mile voyage from Abu Dhabi to Hainan, Sanya.
The fleet is scheduled to set sail for the sixth leg to the United States on April 19.It is the second major breakage to hit the seven-strong fleet since the race began on October 11 from Alicante, Spain.
On November 29, during the second leg in the Indian Ocean, Denmark’s Team Vestas Wind badly damaged their boat after it smashed into a reef.
The crew escaped unhurt after wading through waters known to be heavily populated with sharks to reach safety.
The vessel is now being rebuilt and the team hope to rejoin the race in June for the final two legs.
We will head towards Ushuaia, Argentina, and assess our options
Charles Caudrelier, Dongfeng Race Team skipper
The Volvo Ocean Race is generally considered the toughest offshore challenge in sailing.
In 2011-12, five of the six-strong fleet suffered major breakages on leg five.
In all, the 2014-15 race will cover 38,739 nautical miles, visiting 11 ports and every continent. It is due to conclude in Gothenburg, Sweden, on June 27.


Stricken Dongfeng Race Team forced to withdraw in fifth leg of Volvo Ocean Race

Dongfeng Race Team arrive into Sanya as winners of Leg 3 after 23 days of sailing. Photo: SCMP Pictures

The Volvo Ocean Race is the most illustrious boat race in the world. Photo: SCMP Pictures

The notoriously treacherous Leg 5 has claimed many casualties through the years. Juast five of the six teams completed the leg last year. Photo: EPA

Sport

China

Chinese team suffers a damaged mast on notoriously tricky fifth leg and faces a race against time to be ready for next stage


Joint leaders of the Volvo Ocean Race, Dongfeng Race Team, were dramatically forced to quit the fifth leg early on Monday when their mast broke in the Southern Ocean.


Stricken Dongfeng Race Team forced to withdraw in fifth leg of Volvo Ocean Race

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Chinese team suffers a damaged mast on notoriously tricky fifth leg and faces a race against time to be ready for next stage

Chinese team suffers a damaged mast on notoriously tricky fifth leg and faces a race against time to be ready for next stage