French skipper Marc Guillemot, one of the favourites for the Vendee Globe, has been forced to abandon the yacht race less than 24 hours after the start. Guillemot limped back to Les Sables d'Olonne in France early yesterday morning after his boat, Safran, broke her keel as a result of an accident. The 53-year-old yachtsman, third in the last edition of the solo, non-stop round the world race in 2009, reported hearing "two loud noises" 60 miles off the Vendee coast. On return to port, Guillemot's team "carried out an examination of the vessel and came across the broken keel under the waterline", the team said. "As we don't have a spare keel Safran is unable to rejoin the race." Guillemot's exit leaves a field of 19 at sea, with another Frenchman, Francois Gabart at the helm of Macif, leading with 23,760 miles and three months of sailing ahead. AFP
Australia's Barrie Lester and Matthew Baus completed a fairy-tale ending by winning the pairs competition at the Hong Kong International Bowls Classic yesterday. Lester and Baus had finished one-two in the singles competition last week. The duo also walked away with the pairs title to become only the second team after England to complete the double in the same year. The Australians defeated Ireland's Graham McKee and Mark McPeak 10-5, 11-10 at Craigengower Cricket Club, matching England's feat in 2010. "It's the first time we have come to Hong Kong and to win both competitions at our first attempt is really a dream," said Lester, 30. "It's great to put Matthew's name on the international stage, too." Wales' Judith Wason and Kelly Packwood defeated HKLBA's Nor Hashimah Ismail and Pinky Chan 8-7, 7-5 to lift the women's pairs title. Unus Alladin