Gavignet joins the Majan crew

For the remaining legs of the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race course walking as the Oman Sail A100 arrives in Cape Town

Oman Sail’s A100 trimaran Majan has reached their second stopover in Cape Town, South Africa. Majan is tracing the route of the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race - a new race, conceived by OC Events, that links the Middle East, Africa, Australia and Asia, with the first event planned for spring 2012.

Following the announcement that he will be competing in the Route du Rhum singlehanded on Majan, French sailor Sidney Gavignet will be joining her crew in Cape Town and will sail on board the new A100 for the final three stages of the Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race route.

Paul Standbridge and his five crew on board Majan left the Maldives on 16 February for the 4,200m second leg to Cape Town, taking 13 days and 6 hours to reach the longitude of Cape Aguhlas at 16:02:57 GMT on Monday, 1 March.

The big dive south from the Maldives proved eventful for Majan, crossing of the Equator and grinding to a halt due to the threat of a Hurricane Gelane, and up to 50 knots on her final night.

Majan will remain in Cape Town until 9 March, then depart on the 4,800-mile third leg to Fremantle, Australia, via Cape Leeuwin. Unfortunately for Oman Sail’s 75ft trimaran Musandam, she was forced to return to Muscat. The intention was for Musandam to complete the entire course, but technical problems with the mainsail prompted the decision to return to her base in Oman early to undergo a refit before handing the multihull over to a new owner who will also be competing in the Route du Rhum.