Hampshire skipper forced to put safety first (From Romsey Advertiser)
When news happens, text ROMS and your photos or videos to 80360. Or contact us by email and phone.
Hampshire skipper forced to put safety first
7:50am Thursday 5th April 2012 in Sport
IAN WALKER
HAMPSHIRE skipper Ian Walker’s Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing will ship their boat to Brazil after damage prevented them from completing Leg 5 of the Volvo Ocean Race.
The team made the tough call not to attempt to complete the 6,700 nautical mile leg from Auckland, New Zealand, to Itajaí in Brazil, to preserve the safety of the crew and stop further damage to their yacht Azzam.
Instead, they have headed to Puerto Montt in Chile where Azzam will be loaded on to a container ship and transported to Itajaí.
With 50-knot winds and 10m seas forecast at Cape Horn for the next four days, skipper Ian Walker said their decision was “the only logical option”.
For full story and more sailing news, don't miss Sail Solent in today's Daily Echo.
click2find
