By Suzanne McFadden
Devastated solo round-the-world skipper Josh Hall was last night struggling towards the Chatham Islands after losing his mast in heavy seas.
"It's not my race this time around - either," said Englishman Hall, who had to be rescued from sea in the last Around Alone race four years ago.
Hall
left Auckland with the race fleet on Saturday, bound for Uruguay, and had moved up into second place overnight.
But at around midday yesterday his mast snapped under the first spreader in 35 knot winds. He was 280 miles south east of the Chathams.
He managed to salvage the jib and the boom but had to cut away most of the rig and the main. Last night he was attempting to set a jury rig, but he was motoring north towards the Chathams.
"I'm devastated. I thought we could have this thing in the second half [of the race]," he said.
Rescue services on the Chathams had been made aware of Hall's predicament.
American skipper Brad van Liew was diverted towards Hall's position in case the Englishman needed help. Van Liew was 160 miles astern of Hall when the accident happened.
Hall was rescued by a fellow sailor in the 1994-95 race, when he hit a submerged object soon after crossing the equator on his way to Cape Town.
Last night Hall reported he had 45 gallons of fuel on board, which would give him 90 hours of motoring.
Race officials in Auckland were yesterday trying to determine whether a new mast could be flown from the mainland to the islands.
"We have to find out from Josh how sailable the boat is," said Auckland stopover director Peter Rachtman.
