ALICANTE, Spain (AP) β The joint leaders of the Volvo Ocean Race, Dongfeng Race Team, were forced to quit the fifth leg early Monday when their mast broke in the Southern Ocean.
The incident could hardly have happened in a worse spot for the Chinese boat, 240 nautical miles (445 kilometers) from Cape Horn in southern Chile, one of the most remote places on Earth.
The breakage in the top section of the mast means the team cannot properly maneuver 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 race with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing at the halfway point.
