This 1st Advent is not a good day for Lennart Burke and Melwin Fink. Early this morning, the Next Generation Sailing team had to inform the Globe40 race organisers about a serious technical problem with the rig of their Class40. Since then, the duo from Hamburg has been working feverishly in the Indian Ocean on leg three from La Réunion to Sydney to secure the rig and boat and check all options.
Globe40: tough draw for Burke and Fink
What happened? The team has been informed that the boomerang (spreader fitting) on the mast, on which the spreader is attached, and the torn-out lower shroud are broken. The mast is "fortunately still standing", according to a press release issued by the team on Sunday evening, but can only be subjected to minimal load. The pictures from the sea show how little sail area the Next Generation Boating team was travelling with on Sunday.
At the time of the break on the third leg, Lennart Burke and Melwin Fink were in third place behind the leading team on Sunday evening, Belgium Ocean Racing - Curium and "Crédit Mutuel". The two circumnavigators from Hamburg took down their sails and moved their boat very carefully in the fourth reef with wind from behind.
The damage occurred "during passive sailing without excessive strain", reported the youngest, yet comparatively experienced crew in the Globe40 fleet. The two sailors are doing well and are not in any danger. However, they are now searching for answers to the question of how they can continue on their first circumnavigation.
Further decisions are still pending
Burke and Fink are already in contact with the mast manufacturer and also with the race organisation. A replacement part would first have to be produced and then get to the boat as quickly as possible. The planning for this and the deliberations on how to proceed in the current leg were far from complete on Sunday evening.
According to the team, the main priority for the time being is to secure the mast and not lose it. The team is therefore sailing a northerly course, wanting to head for safer waters and avoid the predicted storms in the south. A decision on which port of refuge Next Generation Boating Around the World can now call at and how to proceed is still pending.
The press release from the German Globe40 team stated: "At the moment, only the safety of people and equipment counts. Difficult hours for our young German team, which is working feverishly on a solution." It is clear that the unfortunate break in the saling root cannot be fixed on the water in a way that is suitable for regattas. How things could be done differently is being tested on the water and on land.
