While neck and neck with Ecover last night, shortly after the passage of Muckle Flugga, the lighthouse situated to the North of the Shetland Islands, Bonduelle dismasted. The crew is safe and sound, all is fine aboard.

The incident occurred at around 1800 GMT, about 16 miles after the passage to the North of the Shetlands whilst skipper Jean Le Cam was sleeping. The boat was on a close reach in a strong westerly wind and big seas under ORC (small breeze jib) and three reefs in the mainsail.

Several minutes later the race office received this message from Mike Golding skippering Ecover who informed Race Management that Jean was making for Shetland’s largest port on the mainland of Shetland. He said: “Just spoken with Bonduelle – sadly she has dismasted a few miles astern of us on the east side of Shetland. All the crew are OK and they are in no immediate danger – if they haven’t contacted you already – they are clearing the decks before making way towards Lerwick. I am sure they will contact you soonest.”