Tim Troy, the 48-year-old solo yachtsman from the United States who was fighting tenaciously to make the start line of the Velux 5 Ocean race, officially withdrew his entry today.

Troy was determined for over two years to take part in the classic round the world single-handed yacht race. Plagued by problems and setbacks from the outset, he had hoped to fulfill his life long ambition to take on the world’s toughest oceans in his 60 ft yacht Margaret Anna (ex-Petit Navire) and circumnavigate the globe. Today he confirmed this was not to be.

Commenting on the disappointment, Troy said: “I am both emotionally and financially exhausted. You cannot imagine the disappointment I am feeling after working so long and so hard at becoming a member of the elite group of people who have sailed around the world alone.

“With one week to go before the start, I was told that the boat did not conform, and that I would need to make some changes to get the boat to the correct AVS. Although this would not be easy, it could be done, knowing I would need to start the race about a week late. With three days before the start I was informed by IMOCA that I needed to do the rollover test as well. It was impossible for me to do this with the short amount of time, and the limited amount of funds available. I could not just add lead to the keel, and then go out into the Southern Oceans without proper testing. And to do a 180 test would just completely destroy the boat.”