Last minute disaster for Manuard

Mini leader experiences technical difficulties 80 miles from home

Incredibly, with just 80 miles to go to the finish line at 0700GMT this morning, and with the race organisers preparing the Brazilian dancers and just preparing to mix their first caipirinhas, so at 0500 local time in Brazil (0800GMT) a message was received from the distress beacon on Sam Manuard's 431 - Tip Top Too-Le Grau du Roi-Port Camargue. Like Jonathan McKee when he was dismasted the particular message transmitted signifie 'I have a problem aboard that I am dealing with myself. I’m staying in the race. I don’t require assistance'.

The race organisers have been monitoring the progress of Manuard's Mini which was making good progress towards the Salvador de Bahia finish line at 8-9 knot before suddenly appearing to stop dead in its track. At this time he began following a north easterly course - ie back up the course.

At 0745 local (1145GMT), Manuard's position was monitored and showed him to be making 3 knots at 43degs (the course is around 220deg). It is believed Manuard has heaved to to repair whatever damage he has experienced.

At the time of the incident the wind was blowing at 25 knots with gusts of over 30 knots. The seas were choppy and breaking. Whether he had rudder problems or dismasted and waited for first light to construct a jury rig remains to be seen.

The race management and the Brazilian authorities are doing everything to find out exactly what happened aboard Manuard's boat. Unfortunately it will not be easy to go and meet him as the seas are heavy and the wind is still as strong as ever. At 0700 GMT Manuard was 80 miles from the finish, 15 miles from the Brazilian coast. Race
director Denis Hugues has made the interesting observation that in 1999, four of the six front runners finished under jury rig.

Jean-Baptiste Dejeanty on 321 - Artech-Caen la Mer has been another victim. During the hit hisboat hit an unidentified object that seriously damaged the keel. Initially Yves Niort (388 – Demi-Clé Shipchandler) changed course to take him onboard. Then one of the support vessels, Edulys picked up Dejeanty.

The skipper and the support vessel will try to save the boat by removing its mast, taking off its keel and bringing the flat hull to Recife, 250 miles away. If this operation becomes impossible they will salvage what they can from the boat and then abandon it. An outcome that no-one wants to even think about in the immediate future.