The mast of Spanish team MAPFRE, which recently announced its participation in the 2017-2018 Volvo Ocean Race round-the-world regatta, broke during a practice run seven miles southwest of Ones Island, near MAPFRE's home base in Sanxenxo.
The mast broke below the first kraspit in 25 knots of wind and four-metre waves. The boat was in a comfortable position. The cause of the breakdown is not yet known.
The MAPFRE crew was not injured in the incident. After examining the boat for other damage, crew members spent two hours fishing parts of the mast and sail out of the water. The crew was able to return to the base in Sanxenxo on their own.
The Volvo Ocean Race starts from Alicante in October 2017. There are eight teams taking part in the regatta, with seven of them on old VO65s that have already been on the last circumnavigation. All seven have undergone an extensive €1 million refit each. Only one yacht in the Volvo Ocean Race fleet is new: it is the AkzoNobel team's boat.» According to Volvo Ocean Race Fleet Technical Director Nick Bajs, the new boat is in no way superior to the old ones, which are in excellent condition «.
