More trimaran carnage

But this time it is not mast-related

The number of 60ft trimarans which have not sometime this year experienced some form of major breakage, be it structural or though an 'Act of God', one can count on about two fingers at the moment. The latest victim - for the latter reason - is Jean le Cam's Bonduelle.

At present many of the Open 60s and 60ft tris are carrying out their 1,000 mile long singlehanded qualification passages for the Route du Rhum. Le Cam left on his qualifier on Saturday but yesterday afternoon his yellow and green trimaran suffered a collision with a submerged object.

Describing the incident le Cam said that they were directly west of the Point of Finistere, 300 miles out, when the collision took place. Suddenly the boat speed went from 20 knots to zero.

The impact knocked the daggerboard aft, taking out the crash box in the process. This caused the hull to flood and speaking on his Iridium phone from on board Le Cam said the engine was flooded and so he was having to converse battery power.

Le Cam is attempting to nurse the boat back to her base at Port la Foret, but unfortunately this is upwind. Since the collision Bonduelle has travelled just 84 miles and this morning at 09.20 was at 48deg 16N, 9deg 54W.

The weather is supposed to pipe up later today and Le Cam said he would have to tack and this would line him up to be 100 miles due west of Ushant by tomorrow morning. At present he has not requested assistance and presumably will be taking it extremely gently - sailing a boat full of water places a huge load on the structure for which it isn't designed.

Meanwhile le Cam's shore team led by ocean racing veteran Jacques Caraes have leapt into action and are arranging to rendez-vous with Bonduelle, by high speed boat. They will be bringing with them two big pump. They hope to reach the stricken trimaran tomorrow morning.