Velux 5 Oceans - Gutek's challenge for first almost ended in disaster

9:26 PM Tue 9 Nov 2010 GMT

'Velux 5 Oceans Skipper Zbigniew ’Gutek’ Gutkowski onboard his yacht, Operon Racing - Velux 5 Oceans' onEdition &copy Click Here to view large photo

Velux 5 Oceans - Polish skipper powerless as sprint win possibility slips away. Ocean racer Zbigniew Gutkowski has suffered a painstaking blow to his fight for first place in the first leg of the Velux 5 Ocean after losing a vital sail. The 36-year-old, known by his nickname Gutek, had been locked in a tense battle with American Brad Van Liew since the race started from La Rochelle, France, three weeks ago. Gutek had even clawed back hundreds of miles in Operon Racing, a much older boat than Brad's Le Pingouin, momentarily taking the lead. But disaster struck for Gutek ...

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by Velux 5 Oceans