The Ocean Race 2022-23: GUYOT Environnement-Team Europe explain decision to return to Cape Town, target leg wins

03.03.2023 - 00:13 eurosport.com

GUYOT Environnement-Team Europe skipper Benjamin Dutreux has explained that two big cracks forced them to return to Cape Town in one of the most dramatic moments of The Ocean Race.

The team were running in second place, around 34 nautical miles behind Team Holcim-PRB on day four when it was announced they had a problem with the hull.

Ad They declared a “hull sandwich failure” was causing “abnormal movements” which forced them to suspend racing. The Ocean Race'Not easy!' – Malizia to attempt critical mast repair on the water12 HOURS AGO “During the race we were in a good condition, it was not easy, and we were happy with the position of the boat,” explained Dutreux. “I was very happy with the team because we had done a very good job since the beginning of the race. “We have two big cracks and we analysed it then, unfortunately, [we] took the decision to go back.

For sure I feel very bad for all the team. “It’s not easy to retire like that. Everybody knows it’s a long race but that’s the game.

boating Target Brazil Cape Town

The third leg of The Ocean Race has been a bruising one — not necessarily for the crews but for the actual boats with several incidents of damage and the need for repairs being reported over the last few weeks. The teams passed through the scoring gate on Sunday, with Team Holcim-PRB collecting maximum points with Team Malizia in second and 11th Hour Racing Team third, while Biotherm came through fourth.

The Ocean Race 2022-23: 11th Hour Racing Team set new record as pack continue to close at one-third mark

As the crews went past the one-third mark of the third leg of The Ocean Race from Cape Town to Itajai, 11th Hour Racing Team set a new record for the event. In excellent conditions throughout Friday and the early hours of Saturday, the team sailed 586.36 nautical miles (subject to ratification), which is a new record for a distance covered in 24 hours by an IMOCA boat.

'Something that is very important' - Holcim-PRB skipper Kevin Escoffier on helping troubled rivals during The Ocean Race

Holcim-PRB skipper Kevin Escoffier has spoken about camaraderie between rival sailors and sportsmanship in The Ocean Race, revealing that they even help each other out despite being in direct competition. Escoffier’s team currently lead the third leg of this year’s race but the journey from Cape Town to Itajai in Brazil has not been without drama on the water.

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11th Hour Racing Team set records to battle it out for second with Biotherm, while GUYOT environnement return to port

The 11th Hour Racing Team made a blistering start to leg 3 of The Ocean Race, registering 544.63 nautical miles in a period ending just past midnight. That impressive feat means the team is now fighting it out for second place alongside Biotherm, behind leaders Team Holcim-PRB. Ad The time of 544.63 surpasses the official IMOCA record of 539.71 nautical miles, which was set by Hugo Boss.

The Ocean Race 2022-23: Robert Stanjek opens up on GUYOT Environnement Team Europe’s return to Cape Town

Robert Stanjek says he is “very disappointed” about GUYOT environnement-Team Europe having to turn back to Cape Town after sustaining damage on their boat. The crew were in a good position, running behind Team Holcim-PRB but at the beginning of day four of the third leg, a problem with the hull forced them to head back to the start in Cape Town. Ad Leg three is the longest in The Ocean Race’s history at 12,750 nautical miles from Cape Town in South Africa to Itajai in Brazil and sees the crews travel along the Southern Ocean.