VELUX 5 OCEANS SECOND SPRINT DELAYED DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER

Race committee postpone Cape Town start because of gale force winds and huge seas

THE start of ocean sprint two of the VELUX 5 OCEANS has been postponed due to adverse weather conditions off the South African coast. Gale force winds and huge seas led to the race committee taking the decision to delay the start because of concerns about the safety of the skippers and their yachts.

Race director David Adams said: “The race committee has taken the decision to postpone the start of ocean sprint two of the VELUX 5 OCEANS. Currently there are 35 to 40 knot south westerlies and big swells off the coast of Cape Town. The local weather forecast is for the wind to build through the day. The Cape Town harbour master has stopped all shipping movements after midday because of the weather.

“It would be unsafe to send seamen into a known storm. If they were already at sea and a storm hit there is nothing we can do about it but to knowingly send the skippers into a storm is irresponsible.”

The race had been due to start at 2pm from Cape Town, the first stopover of the 30,000 nautical mile round the world yacht race. The race committee will constantly monitor the weather and restart the race when they feel it is safe to do so.

Ocean sprint two, the second of five that make up the VELUX 5 OCEANS, will see the fleet sail through the Southern Ocean to Wellington in New Zealand.

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