Delta and E3 forced to run for cover and repair

SAILING:THE BOAT-BREAKING conditions continued unabated yesterday with two fresh incidents hampering progress of leg four of the Volvo Ocean Race from Singapore to China: more structural damage and a near-sinking but, thankfully, no injuries aside from damaged hopes.

The morning began with news that leg second-placed holder Ericsson 3, under temporary command of Magnus Olsen, was in difficulty. The problems were unspecified but a return to haven was imminent.

Within hours, that news was matched by reports from the Ger O’Rourke-owned, Dutch-Irish entry of Team Delta Lloyd, skippered by Spaniard Roberto “Chuny” Bermudez.

Having enjoyed a brief respite of sorts off the east coast of Taiwan, fresh gales hit the leading group that soon was battling a highly confused seaway as wind against tide bounced off the nearby coast ensuring further chaotic conditions.

As before, Dutchman Bouwe Bekking, in command of Spain’s Telefonica Blue, had been the pathfinder, but he was under pressure from Olsen’s Nordic crew. In turn, their stable-mate and overall race leader, Torben Grael on Ericsson 4, was holding third place.

However, excessive water slopping around the galley mid-ships prompted an inspection of the hull in the forward compartment of Ericsson 3, and that was found to have flooded. Bilge pumps plus frantic use of buckets and, eventually, sponges revealed a four-metre crack and hole in the hull.

Water ingress was also causing the carbon hull to become soggy, and the constant flexing in the seaway led to significant de-lamination. The only option was to turn south towards Taiwan, notify the coastguard and get all crew on deck in full survival suits and with safety gear at the ready.

Meanwhile, almost 200 miles behind, the Dutch-Irish boat discovered similar problems, and though with a less severe water ingress, de-lamination was also becoming a problem. In addition, the mainsail was coming apart from the constant abuse of the high winds.

Both boats headed for safety. Olsen arrived shortly before dark, while Bermudez and his crew, including Edwin O’Connor from Limerick, were expected to arrive around midnight Irish time.

Both boats have “suspended” racing pending inspection and repairs, though a resumption of racing in this leg remains to be confirmed.

The seventh-start, Telefonica Black, is in Subic Bay in the Philippines after formally retiring from the leg having also sustained structural damage last week.

While Bekking continues to lead, with Grael now in second place some 30 miles behind, third place is held by American Kenny Read on Puma Ocean Racing, also limping with a broken boom.

Ireland’s Green Dragon is technically competing, though skipper Ian Walker has said his prime aim is to deliver the boat under sail and intact to Qingdao, its unofficial second home-port alongside Galway. However, the loss of a key bulkhead in the forward section of the boat means the crew must guard against pounding rough seas and the inevitable de-lamination.

The extreme weather associated with the winter monsoon is expected to deliver some relief to those still at sea, and those able may even have a more comfortable and fast, off-wind approach to the finishing-line, still some 400 miles distant with the earliest ETA of sometime tomorrow.