In what is rapidly becoming an expensive race for many competitors, Veolia Environnement, skippered by Roland Jourdain and co-skippered by Jean-Luc Nelias, was dismasted, and has now retired from the Barcelona World Race (BWR). Until mishap struck, the pair was in third place. According to onboard reports, conditions had been fairly light (they were carrying a masthead kite and a full main) when a big puff hit: The boat’s bow buried in a wave, and the mast came down. Thankfully, both Jourdain and Nelias were belowdecks at the time of the dismasting and were not injured.

Unfortunately, Veolia Environnement, is currently about 1650 nautical miles from the nearest port (somewhere in Australia), but they have been able to erect a jury rig and are limping to port, their hearts heavy.

So far, this is the third dismasting in the BWR; all three of the rigs that have failed were built by Lorima.

For more information, check out www.barcelonaworldrace.com

Posted: December 18, 2007