THE STORY
On April 4, 2012, during the fifth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race from Auckland to Itajaí, Brazil, the French yacht Groupama 4, skippered by Franck Cammas, suffered a mast breakage approximately 60 nautical miles south of Punta del Este, Uruguay. This incident forced the team to suspend racing and seek repairs, ultimately finishing third in the leg after a makeshift rig was installed. (si.com)
TEAMS / PEOPLE:
Groupama, Volvo Ocean Race
WHY IT MATTERS
The mast breakage significantly impacted Groupama's performance in the 2011–2012 Volvo Ocean Race, highlighting the challenges of high-speed offshore racing and the critical importance of equipment reliability.