Spirit of Yukoh breekt mast in Vendée Globe

Stijn Tettero• 5 December 2016 om 12:02

Photo sent from the boat Spirit of Yukoh, on December 4th, 2016 - Photo Kojiro Shiraishi Photo envoyée depuis le bateau Spirit of Yukoh le 4 Décembre 2016 - Photo Kojiro Shiraishi Broken mast and retirement for Spirit of Yukoh

Op zondag 4 december ontving de wedstrijdorganisatie van de Vendée Globe bericht van Kojiro Shiraishi dat zijn schip Spirit of Yukoh is ontmast. Schipper Kojiro was binnen in de boot toen hij de mast hoorde breken en is ongedeerd. Kojiro is genoodzaakt om op te geven in de Vendée Globe.

Kojiro is na het breken van de mast naar boven geklommen om het gebroken gedeelte van de mast weg te halen. De mast was niet meer te repareren en Kojiro besloot om uit de race te stappen.

Kojiro: “At 0330 UTC, I heard the mast break from inside of the boat. I quickly went outside to check the damage but the mast had broken in half above the second spreader. I was able to remove the broken piece and I will need to go up again to do some cleaning. The wind was 20 knots at the time I dismasted. I’m okay. I don’t need any assistance, and I am heading for Cape Town. I am sorry for everyone who supported me in this journey and would like to particularly thank my sponsors for their kind support.”