Volvo Ocean Race: Stranded crew hope to salvage yacht

In the aftermath of Saturday’s grounding of Team Vestas Wind in the Volvo Ocean Race, the coming week will prove critical if the brand new 65-footer is to appear again in this edition of the 39,000-mile race around the world.

The nine-person crew of the Danish-sponsored entry are stranded on the Indian Ocean islet of St Brandon, though none is injured and they are not in immediate danger.

The team includes Tralee’s Brian Carlin, the onboard reporter and cameraman who was selected to join the last-minute entry in July.

The Irish Times understands that Team Vestas Wind was sailing at 18 knots (33 kph) in a moderate sea state when the boat grounded on the rocky shallows on the southern end of the Cargados Carajos archipelago.

Also known as St Brandon and comprising a number of sand banks, shoals and islets, it is part a group of outer islands belonging to Mauritius and located some 430km to the north-east of the main Mauritian island.

The crew are being accommodated at a nearby coastguard station that despatched a small inflatable at daybreak on Sunday to assist with the abandonment of the yacht.

Liferafts were deployed in the immediate aftermath of the grounding, but the crew were able to walk in chest-high water to dry rocks nearby.

Smashed rudders

The VO65 was left stranded high on the reef, resting on its keel but with smashed steering rudders and severely damaged stern after being driven onto the rocks.

However, while evacuation options are being arranged for the crew, the fate of the €4.5 million one-design yacht will depend on the extent of the damage incurred in the collision that occurred after sunset on Saturday night.

It is understood that the longer the boat continues to grind on the rocks, the less likely a successful repair can be considered – assuming a successful salvage operation. The best-case scenario involves despatch of a large tug and barge with flotation bags and lifting gear to the archipelago. Transportation of the yacht to a suitable yard facility and likely rebuild of the after section of the hull could conceivably see the team rejoin the race in the latter stages next spring.

The incident is almost a mirror of the Clipper Round the World Race in the Java Sea almost five years ago when an entry hit a reef at Gosong Mampango. In that instance, the 68-footer was declared unsalvageable and a substitute boat was provided for the team later in the race.

Race officials based in Alicante were last night attempting to make direct contact with skipper Chris Nicholson and his team without success. Since abandoning ship, the team’s high-tech satellite communications systems have been unavailable.

Diverted to standby

Rival entry Team Avlimedica were diverted to standby near the islet shortly after the incident. That boat has since been released to continue racing as the Vestas Wind crew were no longer in danger.

It is understood that Nicholson and his team opted to remain close to their boat to assist with any salvage operation that may follow.

The grounding and abandonment is a setback for the team as well as the Volvo Ocean Race that introduced the new 65-foot one-designs as part of a remedy for the high costs of previous races. Team Vestas was a late entry but was noted for its rapidly improving performance. Carlin won the prize for the best onboard reporting and film work in the first leg from Spain to South Africa.

This second leg is currently being led by Ian Walker’s Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing, en route to their namesake home port. The forecast eta for the first finisher is in another two weeks.