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Heartbreak for Telefónica as Leg 8 slips away
Telefónica's Leg 8 victory hopes were wrecked in the early hours of Friday morning, as a second broken rudder forced them to slow the boat drastically, leaving Groupama on course for a triumphant homecoming to Lorient.
"What a mess! Now I'll be happy if we all get to shore without any further problems" - Iker Martínez
The team skippered by Olympic gold medallist Iker Martínez had to perform heroics to fit a replacement for their broken starboard rudder in 25 knots of wind on Thursday afternoon, losing 11 nautical miles in the process but then surging back to reclaim the lead.
The leg was always destined to be decided by the high-risk gybe all the teams were preparing to make, however, and just after Telefónica became the first team to turn calamity struck in seething sea conditions, as the replacement starboard rudder broke and the one on port was damaged.
It was a heartbreaking moment for Martínez, whose team quickly ceded the lead to Groupama and by 0800 UTC were in fifth place, 100 nm off the pace and thinking only of getting home safely.
"The situation on board is normal but we have to be very careful as we only have one rudder and it's damaged," said Martínez.
Groupama, eight points ahead in the overall standings going into the leg, now have the chance to build a significantly bigger advantage with two in-port races and just one final offshore leg to Galway.
At 0800, Groupama were 73.4 nm from the finish, with a lead of 23.1 nm over closest challengers PUMA Ocean Racing powered by BERG, who are third in the overall standings. CAMPER, fourth overall, were in third place on the leg 1.1 nm behind PUMA, with Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing another 5.5 nm back.
"We're all fine," assured Martínez, whose team won the first three offshore legs in the race but now could find themselves 28 points behind with three points-scoring opportunities to go.
"The mood on board is as good as it can be in circumstances like these, as we have just seen any chance of us winning this round the world regatta slip away. It's like two years' work just disappearing into thin air in a matter of minutes. What a mess! Now I'll be happy if we all get to shore without any further problems."
Martínez added: "I would like to say sorry from the bottom of my heart to our sponsors and more specifically to (team CEO) Pedro Campos who has risked so much to provide us with the necessary resources and time to be able to race in this regatta. I think that the only thing right now that that makes me feel any better is knowing that I've given one hundred per cent to this for the past two years.
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Comments
Hmmm. AIS-gate, Cape Horn-gate, storm-trysail gate ... I reckon it's just karma catching up to these guys.
it's just heroic as a team, rudder breaks, team falls from 1st to 4th, then fixes the rudder back to lead again. that is a winner spirit no matter what.
Now you know how Sanya team must feel; ironically Telefonica sold their used boat to the Chinese, which is slower and worst of all has proved to be a lemon. Now you know how the great skipper Mike Sanderson winner of VOR must feel coming in last place, not even able to sail the southern ocean and with a crack in the hull almost sinking if they hadn´t returned to Auckland due to their rudder breakage. Such a talented team led by experienced Mike Sanderson and all their efforts and tactics lost, knowing that it will never produce the winning effects of racing due to a lemon boat and a speed handicap. And the difference of their great sportsmanship is that they still keep their moral high and give their 100% without crying. I hope next time the Chinese get smart and build a brand new boat and we´ll have some interesting sailing between Sanya, Puma and Groupama.
I am devastated so I can imagine how the guys on board must feel. Telefonica we love you no matter were you finish!! Iker your still the best skipper for our blue boat!! Pity you didn't get your leg win for your birthday but at least you will get to end it with a great meal!!
Iker ¡Feliz cumpleaños!, Happy Birthday!. Moreover, "It would be an honor to sail with you on any occasion." You can be proud of your performance in this race as well as all the Telefonica Crew. - But this is not over yet, for now (depending on Sanya) Telefonica is tied with Camper and only 4 points from Puma, with 2 in-port and Galway leg anything can happen, even with Groupama.Anyone could break a rudder...
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