CAMPER to stop at Chile for repairs

Emirates Team New Zealand Media Update: CAMPER to stop at Chile for repairs

25 March 2012

After conducting a full assessment of the bow damage suffered 24 hours ago CAMPER with Emirates Team New Zealand has decided that the damage is too significant to repair at sea and therefore will need to make a brief stop at the Chilean port of Puerto Montt to carry out a permanent repair.

Exact details are still being worked through but the current intention is to suspend racing when close to Puerto Montt. CAMPER is not withdrawing from Leg Five and after completing repairs will resume racing from where it was suspended.

Spirits remain high aboard and all crew are focused on getting back into racing as soon as possible.

Skipper Chris Nicolson said from the yacht: “This is the only option that is satisfactory to us from a safety perspective, but also keeps us in the race. It’s a hard decision to make but we are all in good spirits. As we have said in the past the Southern Ocean throws up the best and worst days of your life- recent days certainly haven’t been the best days but we will get through this uninjured and ready to continue in the race.”

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