Clipper Round The World Race has announced that yacht Greenings will withdraw from the race after it ran aground halfway between Cape Town and Cape Point on Tuesday (31 October)

2 November

Following careful analysis of the situation and condition of the Clipper Round The World Race yacht Greenings, the Clipper Race office has confirmed that the vessel is partially underwater after running aground on the western side of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa, and will take no further part in the Clipper 2017-18 Race.

The crew of Greenings (CV24), was safely evacuated after running aground at approximately 2140 UTC (2340 local time) on Tuesday (31 October) after leaving Cape town earlier in the day for Leg 3 of the eight-leg global sailing race. No injuries were reported.

Interim Skipper, Andy Woodruff, has been informed of the decision and discussions have taken place with Greenings Skipper, David Hartshorn (who is currently recovering from an earlier injury) and his crew regarding their future participation in this edition of the race. 

Underwriters have appointed a surveyor who will attend the boat tomorrow and, on receipt of his report, a decision will be made as to whether the boat will be salvaged or not.

 

1 November

The crew of Clipper Round the World Yacht Race team, Greenings (CV24), have been safely evacuated after running aground on the western side of Cape Peninsula, which sits roughly halfway between Cape Town and Cape Point, during Leg 3 of the eight-leg global sailing race.

The Clipper 70 yacht, which has already circumnavigated the world twice before, run aground at approximately 2140 UTC (2340 local time) on Tuesday 31 October after departing Cape Town earlier in the day.

 

There were no injuries reported on board and the skipper and all 17 crew members are safe and well but all were evacuated on to rescue boats provided by the NSRI (National Sea Rescue Institute) for precaution to return to shore at Hout Bay. 

Continues below…

 

Clipper Race Director, Mark Light, and Chairman, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, plus members of the Maintenance Team have remained in constant contact with the skipper and with the rescue services. After initially being informed of the grounding another of the twelve teams, Unicef, as the closest vessel, was asked to standby to assist but, as the situation was quickly under control, Unicef was instructed to stand down and continue racing.

At this stage is unclear why Greenings ran aground but a full investigation is scheduled to take place and further updates will be provided in due course.