Attentive Globe40 observers had already guessed it on Monday morning: Lennart Burke and Melwin Fink are back after the breakage of the boomerang and lower shroud on her Class40 in the early morning of 30 November on the way back to La Réunion. Initially shocked and deeply saddened, Burke and Fink had already secured their mast in the best possible way after the bang on 1 Advent. It has now also been officially confirmed that they are sailing back to the start harbour of the current third leg.
Burke and Fink back to La Réunion for repairs
The duo from Hamburg reckon it will take around eleven to 14 days for the painful journey back. During this time, the main task is to continue to secure and preserve the mast. According to a press statement from the team, the withdrawal from stage three "is more than hard for the young German team and is incredibly difficult for them".
We are super sad and disappointed that we can't continue the stage. But safety is our top priority!" - Lennart Burke
Burke and Fink now have to sail around 1400 nautical miles back to La Réunion. Because the island in the Indian Ocean is a French overseas department and belongs to the EU, the team believes it offers the "safest starting point for repairs and refits, but also to get back into the race afterwards".
Lennart Burke and Melwin Fink, as the youngest crew on their first circumnavigation, had already overcome a number of adversities beforehand, such as losing a sail on leg one or catching up on a gap of more than 600 nautical miles on leg two, which they finished in second place after a strong final. But the current problem is bigger. And leg four begins on 1 January, taking the Globe40 fleet from Sydney to Valparaiso in Chile.
Return to Globe40 only possible in the new year
Looking at the current date, it is clear that the return of the only German Globe40 crew, which was so rudely thrown out of the race, is no longer possible for the fourth stage. However, Lennart Burke and Melwin Fink want to do everything they can to be back as soon as possible. Whether this will be possible at the start of the fifth stage from Valparaiso to Recife in Brazil on 18 February or only at the start of the sixth and final stage from Recife to Lorient on 29 March was initially unclear, but the crew is not prepared to accept a complete withdrawal.
Giving up is not an option for us! We will make it and be back in the race soon!" - Melwin Fink
The team statement said: "It's not over yet for Next Generation Boating Around the World! The journey continues! We would like to thank everyone who continues to support us in these difficult times and who have supported our decision. We will not let you down and will continue to give our all!"
The Globe40 tracker shows the intermediate results on leg three, but also the position of Lennart Burke and Melwin Fink on their difficult return journey to La Réunion, where they last sailed at a good three knots on 1 December. In the meantime, they have also been passed by the fleet stragglers "Jangada Racing" and "Whiskey Jack" on their way south, while the German boat has to sail north.
Tough Globe40 draw for Burke and Fink
A look at the intermediate standings of the current third stage will add to the agony of Lennart Burke and Melwin Fink, as the rivals, with whom they had just competed brilliantly in the top three, continue to fight a close duel. On Monday evening, Jonas Gerckens and Benoît Hantzperg from the Team Belgium Ocean Racing - Curium gained a narrow lead of 14 nautical miles over Ian Lipinski and Amélie Grassi on "Crédit Mutuel". At this point, the two top boats in Globe40 still had around 3100 nautical miles to go to the next port of call, Sydney.
Lennart Burke and Melwin Fink originally wanted to arrive there with a strong result, overhaul their boat over Christmas and continue the Globe40 with leg four from New Year's Day. These dreams were shattered when the rig was damaged - a very tough fate for the crew, who had only decided to take on the challenge of sailing around the world a few months before the start of the race and had found increasing support along the way. But for now, only one thing matters, as the team itself emphasised: "Keep the mast safe and do everything we can not to lose it."
A fond memory of better times - the interview with Lennart Burke and Melwin Fink after second place on stage two. The world of their many "firsts" on the course around the world was still in order. At the ages of 23 and 27, the co-skippers have taken on a big challenge that is currently testing them hard:
