More news from Cowes RNLI. Ed
A 1,750 round Britain race ended virtually as soon as it began for an Austrian ocean racer today – when it was dismasted in a strong south-westerly in the Solent.
When Cowes RNLI lifeboat arrived off Osborne Bay they found the yacht, Celox 40, with it mast and practically all its rigging having disappeared under the choppy seas
A dan buoy and anchor from the yacht was then used to mark the position, to help with any future recovery operation from the seabed some 16 metres down.
Celox 40, with six people on board, was among around 30 yachts that had started from the Royal Yacht Squadron line at Cowes on the gruelling RORC Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race. The mast and rigging went crashing overboard within sight of the start, as it was apparently racing along at 26 knots under full sail, including spinnaker.
Lifeboat helm, Matt Chessell, said, “With so much mast and rigging from such a large ocean yacht under the water, we received the go ahead from Solent coastguards to cut what few rigging lines were left on the yacht. Fortunately none of the yacht crew was injured in what must have been a really dramatic event.”
It was the second dismasting attended by Cowes lifeboat in three days.
