The Chinese do not pass Cape Horn. 240 miles west of the World’s Damnedest Cape the Chinese Dongfeng team dismasted at dawn this morning (March 30)in full darkness. No injuries on board: the crew, engaged in the fifth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race, reported that the mast broke in the upper section. The boat will not be able to continue the leg, to Itajaì, Brazil, and is sailing to Ushuaia, Argentina, with a makeshift rig. “The mast broke without any warning in 30 knots of wind,” recounted French skipper Charles Caudrelier.
ON BOARD MEMBERS OF THE TEAM WHO HAVE NEVER NAVIGATED WITH MORE THAN 30 KNOTS.
Recall that Dongfeng Race Team is a Chinese-French crew. Skipper Charles Caudrelie has two Chinese crew members on board. Cheng Ying Kit (‘Kit’) and Liu Xue (‘Black’), who until a year ago had never even spent a night at sea and had never before sailed in more than 30 knots. Despite this, the team managed to get a historic victory during the third stage of Volvo with arrival right in China, in Sanya.
