Around 0330hrs (UTC/GMT) this Friday morning skipper Arnaud Boissières confirmed that the mast of their IMOCA Open 60 Akena Vérandas
had broken some 270 miles WNW of the Breton peninsula. The duo had been
lying in ninth place in the Transat Jacques Vabre double handed
Transatlantic race which set off from Le Havre, France on Wednesday.

Arnaud Boissières reported that both he and Akena Vérandas’
co-skipper Gérald Veniard were uninjured. The mast is said to have
broken in several places and the duo have managed to retain only a deck
spreader, the boom and a short piece of tube. They are making progress
towards the French coast around 2.5 kts.

“We are not hurt other than our pride. There was a very large
crack. It was as if we had hit a cliff at ten knots The mast is broken
in several places.” Reported Boissieres to his team early this morning.

You can keep up to date with the Transat Jacques Vabre progress at www.transat-jacques-vabre.com