GUYOT environnement-Team Europe plan to return to The Ocean Race in Aarhus with a repaired boat after dismasting

GUYOT environnement-Team Europe are plotting their comeback and say they will return to The Ocean Race in Aarhus.

Their boat is currently in a shipyard in Kiel, north Germany, with their tech team, as well as 10 international boat-building experts, working around the clock to render the boat fit for purpose.

Work is being done on the hull, mast, foils and rudder.

The dismasting happened on 9 May and after much jury-rigging, the crew made it to Halifax four days later for an emotional meeting with their shore team members.

The boat was swiftly put on a cargo ship to Europe and plans were put in place – all with the goal of being able to rejoin The Ocean Race as quickly as possibe.

Now, with their goal creeping closer to reality, team manager Jens Kuphal has explained how many elements have needed to come together to make it happen.

He said: “This comeback is only possible because of a great collaboration between The Ocean Race family, all of whom worked incredibly hard on the different levels to help us get back in the race. It was not only a question of whether the repair was technically possible at all in the tight timeframe, but also of setting up the financing for it.

“We got support from all sides. The Ocean Race was committed to us and all the other teams helped.

“Special thanks go to Biotherm who showed unmatched solidarity and sporting spirit in providing what we needed most. And 11th Hour Racing Team pulled out all the stops to help us acquire their spare mast on very favourable terms.

“Team Holcim-PRB too, contributed to help get us here. But the truth is all of our friends on teams that we normally compete against pulled together to see us have this opportunity to be back on the start line in Aarhus. And none of this would have been possible without the leadership and contributions of The Ocean Race organisation.”

As well as the support from rival teams, Kuphal has been overwhelmed by the resilience and passion shown by his own team.

“During the last two weeks our team has grown together even more. After the abandonment of the Southern Ocean leg, the dismasting was the second knockdown. But we got up again.

Skipper Benjamin Dutreux admits there has been an elephant in the room when discussing the team’s next steps.

“Of course, we had to consider the fact that we’ll be taking part in the Transat Jacques Vabre in October. Inevitably the question of stopping the race came up,” he said.

“This option has always been the last option. It’s been like a sword of Damocles hanging over my head since the dismasting, but deep down I was convinced that we were going to find the necessary solutions to get back into the race.”

With an update from the Kiel Knierim shipyard, bosses Gunnar Knierim and Steffen Müller, said: “We’re up for such a fire brigade mission. That’s what our job is all about. Economic thinking only takes second place here. When the yacht arrived here, we went to work with all enthusiasm. It is super to be involved in this project. Finally, there is a real racing boat in the hall again.”

The Aarhus leg of The Ocean Race – which GUYOT environnement-Team Europe are targeting for their return – gets underway on 8 June.

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