After hitting two unidentified floating objects (UFO’s) within a 48-hour time span and sustaining damage to both rudders, the Estrella Damm team, skippered by Barcelonan Guillermo Altadill and co-skippered Seattle-based sailing great Jonathan McKee, have made the tough call to retire from the BWR. Since the beginning, the duo’s goal had been to make it to the podium, but now, with over 2,500 miles separating the team’s Open 60, which is currently in Cape Town, from the race leaders (with this number growing by the hour), the two realized that their chances of being competitive have vanished. For McKee this was especially disappointing, as this would have been his first circumnavigation.

So far, three of the BWR’s nine Open 60 have had to stop for repair, with Delta Dore, skippered by Jeremie Beyou and co-skippered by Sidney Gavignet, dismasted and awaiting shore support.

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Posted: December 14, 2007