Image: Swan 65 Translated 9 diverting to Falkland Islands: Credit: JJ / OGR2023
At 22:15 UTC on February 8th, the owner of Italian yacht Marco Trombetti, Translated 9 ITL (09) currently IRC race leader in the MCINTYRE OCEAN GLOBE RACE contacted Race Control to inform them of damage to the hull of the Swan 65. Two cracks had developed in the stern sections of the former Whitbread yacht then known as ADC Accutrac.
One crack appeared close to the rudder keg and the yacht is taking on water – but the situation is manageable for now.
THE INTENTION THEN WAS TO CONTINUE TO YACHT CLUB PUNTA DEL ESTE URUGUAY.
OGR authorised open satellite calls to Translated 9 engineers in Italy overnight to discuss the situation and how best to proceed. In the hours proceeding initial contact, the decision was made to declare a Code Orange and relevant Maritime Rescue Coordination Centers were advised and are monitoring the situation. The captain requested NO ASSISTANCE.. Two videos of the damage were forwarded to OGR and passed to the shore team engineers for inspection.
Following careful assessment of the damage the captain has decided to seek shelter in the Falkland island,150 miles south, but no DECISION YET IF OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE for onboard repairs will be required. No decision on the intended anchorage/port has been made. If outside assistance is required TRANSLATED 9 will be removed from the OGR rankings for leg three of the race.
Translated 9 is currently racing the Ocean Globe Race, an eight-month retro round-the-world yacht race. The yacht, alongside 12 other yachts, departed Auckland on January 14th bound for Punta del Este where she was due to arrive by February 13/14th.
They are now sailing at 8.7 knots is 10-12 knots NW winds with favorable winds forecast for the voyage to the Falklands. ETA LATE 10TH FEB. Further updates will be posted soon.
VESSEL : TRANLASTED 9 - 65ft yacht 10 POB - ENTRANT Ocean Globe Race.
CAPTAIN : SIMON CURWEN
REFER: OGR Safety BOOK (attached)
CODE ORANGE: NO ASSISTANCE NEEDED.
Position @ 0001 UTC 9TH FEB: 48- 56.59S 60-9.65W
LIVE Position of TRANSLATED 9 Updates hourly on OGR Satellite tracker HERE.....
Vessel GPS SOG & Heading: SOG 8.5knots, COG 26T
Current Weather: W15K GUSTS 30K SEA 1.5M
SITUATION: INGRESS OF WATER THROUGH 2 CRACKS IN HULL, ONE MINOR, ONE VULNERABLE TO SERIOUS.
Translated 9 called the OGR team AT 2215UTC to report TWO cracks in the hull AFT SECTIONS. One is manageable, the other beside the rudder skeg IN THE AFT CABIN is concerning.
HULL LAMINATE IS TORN AND FLEXING.
CAPTAIN is planning to avoid heavy weather if possible and is CURRENTLY BOUND FOR PUNTA DEL ESTE URAGUAY.
CAPTAIN SUGGESTED EXTRA STRESS ON HULL COULD OPEN CRACK.
HE THINKS IF THAT SHOULD HAPPEN THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO STOP THE FLOW OF WATER AND IT COULD SINK THE BOAT.
Currently ATTEMPTING a temporary repair.
The crew are managing water ingress for now. NO ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED AND THE CAPTAIN IS IN CONTROL AND NOT ASKING FOR ANY ASSISTANCE.
SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS ARE GOOD AND ALL SAFETY GEAR IS SERVICEABLE
Crew HAVE SENT A VIDEO OF CRACK DAMAGE TO OGR CONTROL AND TO ENGINEERS ONSHORE FOR ADVICE.
OGR will provide weather forecasts and routing advice to minimise impacts.
OGR team standing by and will update MRCC IF SITUATION CHANGES.
Yacht Club Punta del Este
The Ocean Globe Race (OGR) is a fully crewed retro race in the spirit of the 1973 Whitbread Round the World Race to mark the 50th Anniversary of the original event. Starting at MDL’s Ocean Village Marina, Southampton UK on September 10th, 2023, the OGR is a 27,000-mile sprint around the Globe divided into four legs, taking in the Southern Ocean and the three great Capes.
The fleet is divided in three classes for a total of 14 entries. Stopovers include Cape Town in South Africa, Auckland in New Zealand, and Punta del Este in Uruguay, before finishing back to the UK in April 2024. For more information, visit www.oceangloberace.com.