The German America’s Cup team limped home into the Port America’s Cup yesterday after breaking its mast during an afternoon training session.

The UITG boat GER 72 was towed into port with about five or six metres of the mast left intact. That would put the break near the first spreaders.

The broken mast was on the old training boat, GER 72, and was said to be an older mast.

Regardless, this is a set-back for one of the new challengers in this 32nd America’s Cup. The team began to sail its brand-new GER 89 last month, and more recently began training with both boats together.

Wind conditions on Tuesday afternoon ranged from 12 knots on the northern race areas to up to 18 knots on the southern race courses.