THE SPORTSMISTAKES RECORD

Dongfeng Mast Failure Southern Ocean

2015 • Sailing • Equipment Mistake • Rig Failure
Dongfeng Mast Failure Southern Ocean — SportsMistakes artwork

THE STORY

On March 30, 2015, during the Volvo Ocean Race's fifth leg from Auckland to Itajaí, the Dongfeng Race Team's mast broke 240 nautical miles west of Cape Horn in the Southern Ocean. The crew, led by skipper Charles Caudrelier, reported the mast broke above the third spreader in approximately 30 knots of wind. No injuries were reported, and the team diverted to Ushuaia, Argentina, to assess repairs. (sailing.org)

TEAMS / PEOPLE: Dongfeng Race Team, Volvo Ocean Race

WHY IT MATTERS

This incident forced the Dongfeng Race Team to abandon the fifth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race, significantly impacting their overall standings. Despite this setback, the team later secured a third-place finish in the 2014–2015 Volvo Ocean Race. (en.wikipedia.org)

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