What a drama in the Bay of The Hague! About 20 minutes after the start of the showdown leg to the destination harbour of Genoa, there was a crash between "Guyot" and "Mālama". At first glance, "Guyot" helmsman Ben Dutreux and his crew either overlooked the American Imoca or saw it too late.
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Charlie Enright and his team tried to turn to avoid the collision or minimise its impact. Just at that moment, however, "Guyot" fell off and her bowsprit drilled into the aft hull side of "Mālama". Wedged in each other, both boats rotated around each other for a few seconds. 11th Hour Racing only got free again when the bowsprit of "Guyot" broke off.
It is a gift that nobody was seriously injured" (Jens Kuphal)
The crash left a hole of around one square metre in the rear hull area of the American racing favourites on "Mālama". Team Guyot, which caused the crash in a classic port-starboard situation, returned to harbour under its own power with a broken bowsprit. In the end, 11th Hour Racing also managed to do so with the keel tilted hard to starboard to avoid any water ingress. Both teams officially suspended the race for the time being. According to initial reports in the evening, the prospects of the leg continuing seemed to be close to zero.
The damage after the crash in the Bay of The Hague was as great as the despair on board the boats involved: "Mālama's" aft port hull was torn to shreds and has a huge hole. Guyot's bowsprit also caused damage inside the boat. The bowsprit had penetrated the cockpit roof slightly behind the window. "It's a gift, a beautiful miracle that nobody was seriously injured," Jens Kuphal told YACHT online in the evening.
Team Malizia cancels live broadcast and offers help
Charlie Enright had tears streaming down his face, as did Jack Bouttell. On board "Guyot", all the crew members repeatedly put their hands to their faces. Navigator Sébastien Simon knelt on the forecastle next to the broken bowsprit with his head bowed like a symbol of the sad collision. After the crash, support boats from the race organisers and several teams immediately rushed to the damaged boats. Team Malizia also interrupted its live broadcast to rush to the scene of the collision and offer help.
According to race director Bill O'Hara, an official protest by 11th Hour Racing and a decision by the jury on how to deal with the situation was expected as early as Thursday evening. In any case, the decision will have a serious impact on the outcome of the race. It is likely that 11th Hour will receive compensation. It could be that the Americans win the 14th The Ocean Race without continuing the leg.
Team Holcim too-PRB is an indirect "victim" of the collision
Charlie Enright and his crew had a two-point lead over Team Holcim with 33 points before the start of the final stage. PRB. The Swiss would have loved to have battled with the Americans on the water for overall victory. The task was difficult for Team Holcim - PRB, but not entirely impossible. They should have been three places better than 11th Hour Racing. Now, after an impressive start, they are no longer able to fight on the water and are therefore also indirect "victims" of the collision.
What makes the drama on 15 June even sadder is that it was caused by the already long-suffering Team Guyot. And that it was the damaged 11th Hour Racing team, of all people, that had provided the comeback team led by skipper Ben Dutreux with its replacement mast. After the acclaimed victory in the harbour race and a great deal of optimism, Team Guyot now has another low to overcome in The Hague.
"Heartbreaking scenes" at the dock - lots of tears, but also strong words
"Guyot" team manager Jans Kuphal, who had watched the broadcast of the start with many other members of his and other teams on the "Sailor's Terrace" in the stage harbour of The Hague, reported "heartbreaking scenes" on the dock that evening. Ben Dutreux and Charlie Enright hugged each other for a long time - and both cried. Enright later said to Robert Stanjek: "If it's not intentional, it's an accident." According to Kuphal, that was a great attitude for which his team is grateful.
The collision also has serious consequences for the race organisers. Only three boats are still sailing to Genoa. The overall winner may be missing there. "A catastrophe," was heard again and again from The Hague in the evening. Jens Kuphal described it "like a car accident": "You're completely shocked. You can't believe it. We were devastated." Team Guyot has now officially abandoned the race. "The boat is no longer sailing for the time being," said Jens Kuphal. But also these words: "We will endure this together and carry each other through it."
