Green Dragon setback as spreader breaks

8:42 PM Thu 13 Nov 2008 GMT

'Dave Kneale/Volvo Ocean Race. Green Dragon's preparations for the second leg race to Cochin, India were dealt a blow today when they broke a spreader during a practice sail in Cape Town.' Dave Kneale / Volvo Ocean Race Click Here to view large photo

Green Dragon's preparations for the second leg of the Volvo Ocean Race to Cochin, India were dealt a blow today when they broke a spreader during a practice sail.

The team were sailing upwind in 30 knots when the J4 lock strop broke and caused the head swivel on the sail to break away and come down, damaging the tip of the third starboard spreader in the process.

It is a recurrence of a problem that first occurred in Alicante - where the same mechanism that locks off the halyard also broke - and leaves skipper Ian Walker with just 32 hours to get ready for the start.

'The J4 fell down before we left the harbour in Alicante,' he said. 'It was a problem which we worked on a lot but thought we had rectified. Today the J4 came off the lock and then that hit the spreader and damaged it on the way down.'

The team has already made arrangements to fly their spare spreader to Cape Town from storage in Amsterdam and Walker is hopeful the component will be fitted by Saturday's leg two start.

'We have got a spare spreader and we are going to get it flown here,' he added. 'We will probably repair this as well. We have only just got on the dock and are looking at the damage, but there does not look like there is anything that will stop us starting on time.

Walker was relieved to be the first boat on the water for a practice sail, but fears the recurring problems with the J4 could hinder their second leg.

'I think we have to get to the cause of the J4 problems which we obviously have not since Alicante,' he said. 'That might affect us a bit for the second leg.

'The good things is we got out today - I think we were the only guys that did - and we looked at everything and checked everything we have done to the boat. We are happy with that and so if we can get this fixed for the start we will be happy.'

Elsewhere, Race Director Jack Lloyd has confirmed Saturday's re-start will go ahead as planned. Several teams were struggling to launch as a result of high winds in Cape Town, but the breeze has since reduced and the yachts are gradually being hoisted into the water.

'It is the intention of the Race Committee to start as scheduled on Saturday at 13:00 (local). It always was,' Lloyd said. 'We were monitoring the situation with the weather, mindful that several boats hadn't launched. But we've had two boats in the water since Monday so we really are obliged to do everything we can to start on time.

'I think we were sceptical this morning that the forecasts were right. They might not be 100% in terms of wind strength, but the pattern seems to be right, with the wind easing so it should be business as usual.'