The Ocean Race 2022-23: 11th Hour Racing Team future ‘uncertain’ after collision with GUYOT environnement – Team Europe

A dramatic collision left just three boats on the course racing towards Genova on Leg 7 of the Ocean Race 2022-23.

The incident caused significant damage to the 11th Hour Racing Team boat and they were forced to head back to shore for repairs.

GUYOT environnement – Team Europe skipper Benjamin Dutreux has claimed responsibility for the crash which ultimately saw the team retire from the leg.

He said: “I was helming and I just saw their boat appear suddenly and it was too late.

“The contact was unavoidable (at that point). I take full responsibility. It is our fault.”

11th Hour Racing Team need to finish the final leg, which ends in Genova, Italy, to have a chance of topping the standings.

There could be a claim for redress from 11th Hour Racing Team. Redress is a request for compensation when a boat’s score or place in a race has been made worse through no fault of their own.

Not long after the collision, the team’s skipper Charlie Enright admitted the remainder of their Ocean Race journey was “uncertain”.

“The most important thing is that everyone on their boat and on our boat is ok,” Enright said on the dock.

“Where we go from here is uncertain at this stage. It’s life, it’s racing. There is nothing we would have done differently and accidents happen.

“This race has a way of testing people in different ways – physically and mentally, and this is a test for our team. But there is no team I would rather be on, that I would rather have with me.

“If anyone can figure this out, it is us, I genuinely believe that, we will just have to see what that process looks like as we get more information.”

“Personally, I refuse to admit this race is over,” navigator Simon Fisher said.

“We would rather try to win it on the water, but we need to find out what our options are, if this can be repaired, and what our redress implications are as a team now, and hopefully move forward.

“I have seen plenty of stuff in my time over six editions of The Ocean Race, and this is not one of the better ones, but we have a fantastic team, and going into today, we were in a fantastic position, and that is thanks to the team we have. If I wanted to be with any group of people in adversity, it’s them.”

Team Holcim-PRB currently lead out of The Hague starting area towards the North Sea ahead of Team Malizia and Biotherm.

The last stage of the race is a 2,200-nautical mile, leg from The Hague through to Genova, Italy which is expected to last around 10 days.

It is the first time The Ocean Race has finished in the Mediterranean and a first stop in Italy.

The current leaders of the race are 11th Hour Racing Team on 33 points. Team Holcim – PRB are in second place on 31 points and Team Malizia are third on 27 points.

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