Nick Brennan, one of the two Australian entries in the Mini Transat (Open 6,50 Charente-Maritime-Bahia), seems to have suffered a problem as he makes his final sprint into Brazil.

Brennan who’s been lying in the top five for the majority of the second leg which started over two weeks ago from Madeira, had moved up to third position yesterday but he has now stopped in his tracks just off the north-west tip of Brazil which indicates he has a serious problem. According to the race tracker has turned to the east and is making zero headway in the 15kt headwind.

Tom Braidwood, fellow Australian who himself had gear problems at the start of the race said he was deeply sad to hear the news this morning, commenting: “?I have been very excited to see Nicko in third place making the big boys work for their money? I really hope this is a computer/website mistake because not only is Nick a lovely guy but an Aussie that would have been on the podium at the finish.”

More news when we have it.