SPAIN - Strong winds and rough seas have taken their toll on the round-the-world yacht race fleet, forcing three boats to shore with damage suffered during the first day at sea.
Pirates of the Caribbean (US), movistar (Spain) and Australia's Brunel Sunergy headed for the nearest port yesterday for repairs.
"Pirates is taking in water and movistar has damage to its swinging, or canting, keel," race press officer Lizzie Green told AP.
Premier Challenge of Australia (Brunel Synergy) had broken its gooseneck, the device connecting the boom and the mast.
The most worrying is the damage to movistar, a Bruce Farr-designed hull that had completed more mileage in testing than any other boat.
The boat suffered serious structural failure when it flew off a wave and slammed back down into the sea
Skipper Bouwe Bekking said they heard a "sickening loud crack-bang downstairs" which was one of the ram shelves - a piece of structure the hydraulic ram which moves the keel is mounted on - collapsing.
"The load must have been huge, as the main bulkhead buckled badly," Bekking said. "It looks like a major but we'll have to wait and see what the experts say. We have not retired from this leg but we fear the worst."
Of the four boats left in the race, Netherlands syndicate ABN Amro are first and second.
ABN Amro 2 last night held an 8-nautical mile lead over the Mike Sanderson skippered ABN Amro 1.
Brasil 1 (Brazil) were in third place, 14 miles behind the leader.
