‘Not easy!’ – Team Malizia to attempt critical mast repair on the water at The Ocean Race 2022-23

Team Malizia have confirmed that their crew will attempt a critical mast repair on the water during Leg 3 of The Ocean Race 2022-23. The damage was discovered on Wednesday afternoon, with Malizia's technical team working hard to find a solution. Ad That solution will now be implemented on Thursday and while the team will stay on the water, it will obviously result in a major slowdown as the work will take a long time and be complicated.

The Ocean RaceGUYOT Team Europe to return to Cape Town after issue with hullA DAY AGO The team’s statement read: «Co-skipper Rosalin Kuiper climbed up the mast to take photos of the damage in order to assess the situation. »The crack is 30cm long and has ripped a vertical line in the top of the mast just above the first reef and where the fractional head sail would sit. «The technical team have discussed the issue with their external designers and engineers and have elaborated a plan for the mast repair.

»The repair involves preparing the area and then laminating large patches to the top of the mast to cover the ripped area. The repair should give the mast the same strength as before and allow the team to continue sailing with full use of all sails. «If the crew are not fully satisfied with the repair then they could still continue but with reduced sails.

As the team needs many hours to do this they will wait until first light to start and continue under reduced sail until then. »This is not an easy repair to execute at sea, clipped on to the top of a 28 metre mast which will be swaying at huge degrees in the large Southern Ocean swell. «The repair will take hours and will involve sanding the area, preparing the lamination and then laminating it.