Dismasting for Wharington

As Etihad Stadium loses her rig during her delivery to Sydney

Grant Wharington's 98ft supermaxi Etihad Stadium, the former Skandia Wild Thing has lost its rig en route to Sydney for the Rolex Sydney Hobart.

The incident occurred yesterday morning at 0630 local time, 80 miles from Eden, while Etihad Stadiumwas making 25 knots downwind in Bass Strait. Following the incident all 20 crew on board are accounted for and no-one was hurt in the incident. At present the only reasons have been given as to why the mast came down as that "the mast failed" causing the rig to end up in the water. However as the photos indicate it has broken 5m above the deck.

Etihad Stadiumhas since been motoring towards Eden.

Meanwhile the shore crew is working through the logistics of getting a replacement mast flown in from Europe – a spare from Neville Crichton's supermaxi, Alfa Romeo. This would require the mast to be flown in by cargo plane.

"If we can get the mast into the country in the next few days, there are a lot of things that will need to come together to get the boat back in race mode and ready for the Rolex Sydney Hobart, but we’ll be busting our guts trying!!” said Wharington.