After further extensive examination of the masts of the Maxi One Designs competing in the Adecco World Championship, the problem which kept them moored alongside their pontoons today has been identified and the cure is imminent.

Andy Steiner, who was responsible for the construction of the masts at La Ciotat, pinpointed the fault. He says that the clevis pin which retain the forestay to the mast have been incorrectly supplied for the last three boats to be built. He had specified a Nitronix pin of greater tensile strength than the pins which have been used.

It is extremely difficult to tell the substandard pin from a Nitronix one when they are brand new, as Pierre Fehlmann, the class President confirmed. ‘You would not know until they have been loaded hard, and then the substandard ones would show some distortion,’ he said.

It is expected that the pins will be replaced with the originally specified item for the three boats in order that they can race tomorrow. The class, meanwhile, is examining a method to grant Gunnar Krantz’ Team Henri-Lloyd, whose mast failed during the Fehmarn Race, a means of scoring average points for the races she will miss. Krantz expects to race next in the Gotland Runt, starting on July 4th.