- Italia hits unidentified floating object, skipper Gaetano Mura succeeds in repairing damaged rudders and resumes sailing
- The Italian ocean racer shows great courage and determination in conditions that force several participants to the Vendée Globe to abandon the race
Gaetano Mura, the Italian ocean racer trying to establish the non-stop solo round the world record from Gibraltar to Gibraltar on board his Class40 Italia, has informed his shore team that during the night between 9 and 10 December the boat hit an unidentified floating object that damaged both rudders. Italia was sailing at around 13 knots in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Madagascar.
In constant contact with his technical team based in Cagliari, Gaetano headed north to find better light and weather conditions, so to inspect the whole boat and the rudders especially and, following the instructions given, has succeeded in carrying out some “first aid” repairs.
Gaetano described the event saying: “Good news. I’ve tested the left rudder. After applying some reinforcements, I’ve put it down in the water again. The repair has decreased oscillations and noise by 90% with the rudder windward that is in the worst condition with low speed and high waves. Once I will be in a calmer area I will have to inspect the zone forward of the rudders. I am sure that right now there are no structural damages or failures.”
Gaetano also informed his shore team to have reinforced the tiller with a makeshift repair using ropes that looks to be working fine. Until further inspections, Gaetano and his team decided to head north to reach calmer waters to complete the repairs.
Later the option could be moving eastwards and progressively to lower latitudes in order to save Italia more stress. This option has been taken to monitor the rudders and the efficiency of the repairs, still remaining in route towards Australia, before pushing south again when the condition will allow it. Alternatively, Gaetano could opt for a pit stop ashore but Italia is currently more than 800 nautical miles from the nearest land.
Today Gaetano sent back more positive news to his team: “I’ve fixed everything and I think I’ve done a good job with what I have on board. The rudders look steady and do no longer make any noise. I also managed to replace the mainsail batten cars that were not working properly. I’m very happy to have solved all these issues. I’ve done everything in around 25 knots wind, but in order to find calmer conditions I should have gone too further north. I’ve gibed back already and now we are heading eastwards again. It feels fine to be back in the game.” concluded a relieved Gaetano Mura.
