The annoying loss of the Code Zero from Team Malizia had just been reported The next piece of bad news arrived from the Southern Ocean. It had more serious consequences, as the Guyot Environnement - Team Europe had to return to Cape Town harbour with hull structure problems. For the time being, the boat is listed as "suspended" in the classification. The hull problems discovered are to be examined in detail in Kastadt before the team decides on its future in the 14th The Ocean Race.
The scenario feared by all sailors had occurred in the Southern Ocean when GUYOT Environnement - Team Europe had just entered the zone below 40 degrees latitude. Around 600 nautical miles from the stage start harbour of Cape Town, the crew of skipper Benjamin Dutreux, co-skipper Robert Stanjek, navigator Sébastien Simon, Briton Annie Lush and onboard reporter Charles Drapeau noticed cracking and movement in the hull structure below the laminate floor.
The initial analysis showed that the damage was so serious that it would not be possible to safely continue the most important Ocean Race leg over 12,750 nautical miles to Itajaí in Brazil. In consultation with the technical team, the yacht designers and the team management, it was decided to return to Cape Town and the race organisers were informed that this leg would be cancelled.
Arrangements have been made for any necessary evacuation measures
However, the Ocean Race does not have to be over for Team Guyot just yet. In Cape Town, a decision can be made about repair options and a possible re-entry into the next stages. The crew is now working its way back to Cape Town at a reduced speed to protect the boat, where the team is expected in three to five days.
All precautions for a possible evacuation of the yacht have been taken in parallel, as there is always a risk of further consequential damage and water ingress in the event of hull damage. Despite the serious setback, the mood on board is hopeful that the boat can be brought back to Cape Town and possibly re-enter the race.
Black hours on board "Guyot": "When I put my hand on the floor, I could feel it moving up and down"
Annie Lush reports in a detailed statement from the team about how she discovered the damage: "I had just come from the watch and was trying to take my clothes off. But it was a bit difficult because we were travelling in quite high waves. I was just about to go to my bunk when I saw a suitcase moving on the other side, which we had strapped to the floor. At first I thought: maybe I'm a bit paranoid. But then I saw it move again. So I went over and heard sounds of delamination. I alerted Ben and woke Charles. Unfortunately, they could hear it too. When I put my hand on the floor, I could feel him moving up and down."
The two-time circumnavigator went on to say about the black hours on board "Guyot": "This is so bitter, because we had no problems at all for such a long time. We have spoken to the boat builders - and yes, unfortunately: there is no way to repair it out here. So now we have to go back to Cape Town and repair the yacht there."
"We'll be back. As soon as possible."
Commenting on the current mood on board, Annie Lush said: "This is the first time Ben and I have had to turn round in an offshore race. It's a new feeling and it doesn't feel good. It's a big stage and we were looking forward to it. We were in a strong position and the atmosphere on board was very good. We enjoyed the race. There's nothing we can do now except try to get back as quickly and as safely as possible, assess the damage and see what happens next. Luckily it's not the Vendée Globe, it's a race with several legs. We will be back - as soon as possible."
Ben Dutreux: "The ground moved a lot"
The fighting spirit in the team remains alive, even if it is a bitter setback, as skipper Benjamin Dutreux explained, especially in view of his team's strong performance so far on this most important Ocean Race leg: "This morning we were heading east. We were swept along by low pressure, which allowed us to make fairly rapid progress. We were well positioned compared to the fleet. There was a very good atmosphere on board."
Dutreux described the moments when his team discovered the damage as follows: "Suddenly Annie saw the floor move and Charles heard two cracks. We immediately slowed the boat down and tried to see what had happened. Sure enough, I saw that the floor on the port side at the bottom of the hull was moving a lot. We furled the sails and tried to find a steady position. But it wasn't easy because the boat was moving a lot. We had swell with waves of six to seven metres. We contacted the technical team, who called the boat designers to find out what they thought of the situation."
Robert Stanjek: "It's very disappointing to have to abandon the queen stage"
Before the discussions with the experts on land, the crew had not yet completely given up hope of continuing the leg, as Dutreux explained: "We continued slowly eastwards. But there were still many days at sea before Australia, so it didn't seem sensible to continue like this. Because we can't repair it at sea. We have to take the boat out of the water, cut it open, repair it and glue it back together. So we decided to sail back to South Africa, probably to Cape Town. We are travelling slowly so as not to move the bottom of the hull too much and we are still three, four or five days away from Cape Town. We will try to make a makeshift repair."
For co-skipper Robert Stanjek, who is making his debut in The Ocean Race, the return to Cape Town is a particularly bitter experience. His dream of circumnavigating the world in the Southern Ocean has been shattered for the time being. The Berlin was correspondingly disillusioned: "It's very disappointing to have to give up this queen stage. We sailed very well. The team had good positive concentration. Especially after the first two legs, we had hoped that the bad luck would be over and we could finally show our potential."
"Everything is ready to hand for extreme cases"
Team Guyot had impressively shown in the first few days of the "monster stage" that they could be among the front runners. "Then it cracked twice and within seconds the plan was reversed," said Stanjek, "we waited for the call from the tech and design team. But it actually became clear pretty quickly that you can't play in the Southern Ocean with damage like that. It's a tough blow for both the team and the entire team in sporting terms. Everyone has worked so hard and for so long. But it also shatters a personal dream that has driven me for years. I wanted to sail this sea area and this leg successfully. And then the end comes so quickly. Sport is sometimes so brutal."
Despite all the disappointment, the team is now focussing on the current situation: "We have weighted down the delaminated area heavily with pieces of equipment so that the sandwich floor does not have so much play and is not pushed through by the waves. We are travelling at a slow 8 knots towards Cape Town. All the bulkheads in the ship are closed. Everything is ready to hand in case of an extreme situation. We remain in the watch system."
Team Holcim-PRB leads the fleet
Kevin Escoffier's Swiss team Holcim-PRB continued to lead the remaining Imoca quartet on the fourth day at sea. The US team 11th Hour Racing followed a good 90 nautical miles behind. Team Malizia sailed about 110 nautical miles behind "Holcim-PRB". The gap between the late starters from Team Biotherm has now grown to almost 200 nautical miles.
