Team Dongfeng, the Franco-Chinese Volvo Ocean Race yacht group, was dismasted in the early hours of in Southern Ocean this morning. According to reports, everyone on the board are safe. Charles Caudrelier as well as his crew are coming back to Ushuaia in Argentina
Reports suggest that the mast came apart at 0315 UTC today, some hundred and sixty miles west off Cape Horn. It was still dark when the incident took place just above the 3rd spreaders. The yacht crew are able to carry on sailing utilizing a small headsail only, and only on port tack for now, building up at a speed of around 6 to 8 knots.
The Dongfeng shore band have been clambered and are already on their path to tryst with the yacht. The Volvo Ocean Race technical support team, captained up by Nick Bice, with GAC, are on the provision of getting one of the extra masts to Brazil.
