Szabolcs Weöres (New Europe) will not complete his world tour without stopovers and without assistance. In last place in the Vendée Globe, the Hungarian skipper decided to abandon the race two days after damage occurred off the coast of South Africa, the organization announced Monday evening.
On Saturday evening, while operating 700 miles from the Cape of Good Hope, Weöres discovered the breakage of his shroud, an essential part for stabilizing the mast. Since then, “none of the repairs envisaged have made it possible to stabilize the rigging”, it is specified in the press release. In the Southern Seas, this damage could have led to dismasting in the event of strong winds.
A “particularly painful” choice
“This is one of the most difficult decisions of my life. I worked so hard for so many years to get to the start line of the Vendée Globe, with the dream of completing this incredible journey around the world. Withdrawing now is particularly painful,” the navigator told the organizers, who specified that he should reach the port of Cape Town this Tuesday.
The skipper, who is taking part in his first Vendée Globe, had already suffered damage in mid-November. He then stopped in the Canary Islands to repair his sails. The last sailor still operating in the Atlantic Ocean, he was more than 7,000 nautical miles behind leader Charlie Dalin on Monday evening.
Our articles on the Vendée Globe 2024
Szabolcs Weöres is the third entry to abandon since the start of the race, after Maxime Sorel (V and B – Monbana – Mayenne) and Louis Burton (Bureau Vallée). They should soon be joined by the British Pip Hare, 16th, but on her way to Australia after a dismasting on Sunday.
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