#VOR - Vestas 11th Hour Racing has dismasted while racing in Leg 7 of the Volvo Ocean Race, this afternoon Friday 30 March (UTC).
The team is safe and reports there is no immediate danger to the crew.
The team reported that the mast broke at 15:59 UTC (16:59 Irish time) and Race Control was informed of the situation at 16:15 UTC (17:15 Irish time) on Friday afternoon.
The crew was forced to cut away the broken mast to avoid damage to the hull.
The boat is approximately 100 miles southeast of the Falkland Islands and as of 19:00 UTC (20:00 Irish time) was motoring under its own power towards the islands.
At the time of the dismasting, Vestas 11th Hour Racing was sailing in a 25-30 knot northerly wind with three-metre waves.
Other boats in the fleet are in the area and have been informed of the situation in order to render assistance if needed.
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre has been advised of the situation, but the team anticipates no outside assistance will be needed to make landfall at the Falkland Islands.
The incident comes just 24 hours after MAPFRE were forced to suspend racing overnight for emergency repairs to their mainsail and mast track.
Leg 7 Position Report, Friday 30 March (Day 13) at 8pm Irish time/7pm UTC:
- Team Brunel - DTF 1,574.1 nautical miles
- Dongfeng Race Team +22.3 nautical miles
- Team AkzoNobel +45.0
- Turn the Tide on Plastic +74.9
- MAPFRE +228.3
