Amedeo Heads Back to Brittany After Bowsprit Damage. Bestaven To Pitstop in Cascais.

French skipper Fabrice Amedeo has reported damage to the bowsprit of his IMOCA Newrest-Art et Fenetres and is making for a port in Brittany which he expects to reach between Wednesday and Thursday.

Amedeo, the 40 year old former Le Figaro business journalist turned ocean racer, was sailing at between 18 and 20 knots of boat speed in waves of between four and five metres when he noticed the damage to his gooseneck. He was around 140 nautical miles northeast of the La Coruna Traffic Separation Zone (TSS) and sailing with three reefs in his mainsail and under J3 headsail.

He has no explanation for the damage as there was no obvious bang. He slowed down immediately and checked the bow of his boat for other damage.

And fellow IMOCA skipper Yannick Bestaven is making for Cacais in Portugal to make a technical stop after incurring damage to the mainsail track on Maitre-Côq. Bestaven was in seventh place. 

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