Oceanracing 2003 - Defi Atlantique Solo - Qualifier Race for Vendee Globe 2004

Defi Atlantique Solo -Qualifier Race for Vendee Globe 2004
for Open 60 IMOCA class monohulls
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Virbac Dismasted - Skipper safe but qualification goal shattered
Absender: presse@defi-atlantique.org
Empfänger: redaktion@segel.de
Datum: 10. Dec 2003 12:52

Virbac, skippered by Jean-Pierre Dick, has dismasted overnight.

At 0200hrs GMT the race HQ was alerted to something abnormal happening to the boat as Virbac had been going along at more than 10 knots boat speed for several hours and then suddenly stopped to less than 3 knots boat speed. The race director immediately tried to reach Jean-Pierre on the boat, but communication was not possible. The confirmation came very soon after from Jean-Pierre's shore team that he had in fact dismasted, and they had been in touch with their skipper to acknowledge his status. No further news is known, nor in what conditions the boat was in at the time.

Virbac-Skipper Dick - Mastbruch !
Foto: www.jacques-vabre.com

At the time, though, Jean-Pierre had left his westerly option and was heading NE trying to get back up to the leading boats. Yesterday's sat phone chat, Jean-Pierre Dick had said: "I want more than anything to finish the Défi Atlantique, but if I can get onto the podium too it would be a real bonus" These goals were tragically shattered overnight, not far from Cape Verde Islands, with still over 2,000 miles - half the race course - still to cover. More news to come as soon as possible.
Media Contact: Delphine Dusserre 01.40.20.12.42 - 06.16.19.23.70
ddusserre@gopublic.fr David Heuzé 01.40.20.12.33 - 06.83.25.21.86
dheuze@gopublic.fr
Delphine Dusserre
01.40.20.12.42 - 06.16.19.23.70 ddusserre@gopublic.fr
David Heuzé
01.40.20.12.33 - 06.83.25.21.86 dheuze@gopublic.fr