Hexagon looses rig! |
| Wednesday, 07 August 2002 |
| At 06.45h on Friday morning, Graham Dalton’s open 60 Hexagon was sailing in 15- 20 knots of breeze 200 miles west of the Scillies on it’s way to the USA, when the mast broke between the first and second spreaders. Graham, unhurt but on deck at the time cleared the wreckage away and was able to make the port of Lorient, France where he was joined by his shore crew. The yacht has since been motored back to Hamble on the south coast of England for repairs and to fit a new mast.
At present there is no explanation for the mysterious failure which took place in good conditions, off the breeze and on a yacht which has sailed a considerable number of miles already. In a bizarre incident three days later, a French fishing boat dredged up Hexagon’s rig off the bottom with headsails still intact. The pieces are to be landed and it’s possible that just like sifting through the wreckage of a crashed plane, the reason for the failure may show itself.
Meanwhile everyone’s focus is on getting Graham to the USA for the start of the Around Alone. Several options are under way at the moment and it’s hoped that Graham will be making tracks westward over the weekend of 17th August, barely one month before the start of the first leg from New York to Torquay.
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