Volvo Ocean race 2011/2012 - Team Abu Dhabi och Team Sanya redan ute ur leken på första benet

Nu är bara fyra av de sex teamen kvar i racet mot Kap Staden.
Team Abu Dhabi bröt masten endast några timmar efter starten och fick vända tillbaka för reperationer. Nu rapporteras Team Sanya ha fått skrovskador och är på väg mot hamn.
Team Groupama ligger just nu på fjärde plats, sist av de som är kvar i racet.
Racet känns något punkterat redan.

In a blog from the boat Skipper Mike Sanderson describes the moment when they new something was wrong:
So close to making it through the worst of the big breeze and then disaster struck.
We were looking after the boat nicely when at approximately 9 am this morning while going upwind in 35 knots of wind, suddenly the boat went really bow down and immediately we knew it wasn't good. "Instantly we slowed the boat right down, got the remainder of the guys in there bunks into life jackets and then set about tacking over to head for shelter.
The watertight bulkhead is doing a great job, the pumps are running and we are nursing the boat with just a double reefed mainsail into port. Right now we have no idea how major the damage is, we can however see a puncture wound on the port side and streams of carbon peeling off so it isn't good. We are all safe though, as I write this we are just an hour from a safe harbour. The guys are doing a fantastic job, all very positive and working incredibly hard even though you can see the bitter disappointment on all there faces.Be under no illusion though, we will be back with vengeance.
I will let you all know as soon as we have checked our poor boat out in a few hours.



Volvo Ocean Race control is in constant contact with the team while establishing the full extent of the damage so that the crew are given full support to enable them to deal with the situation. Team Sanya’s shore team are working on a recovery plan to ensure the yacht can rejoin the Volvo Ocean Race as soon as practically possible. Further information will be issued as it becomes available.