The Ocean Race 2022-23: GUYOT Environnement-Team Europe explain decision to return to Cape Town, target leg wins

GUYOT Environnement-Team Europe skipper Benjamin Dutreux has explained that two big cracks forced them to return to Cape Town in one of the most dramatic moments of The Ocean Race.

The team were running in second place, around 34 nautical miles behind Team Holcim-PRB on day four when it was announced they had a problem with the hull.

“During the race we were in a good condition, it was not easy, and we were happy with the position of the boat,” explained Dutreux.

“I was very happy with the team because we had done a very good job since the beginning of the race.

“We have two big cracks and we analysed it then, unfortunately, [we] took the decision to go back. For sure I feel very bad for all the team.

“It’s not easy to retire like that. Everybody knows it’s a long race but that’s the game. We are in one piece, the boat is in one piece.

“We need to go back slowly so not more than 10 knots so we don’t damage the area more. Then we will repair the boat as soon as possible. It’s tough at the moment but we have a good positivity in the team to repair it.”

Leg three, which is still ongoing and currently led by Holcim-PRB, is the longest ever in The Ocean Race’s history at 12,750 nautical miles, which will take over a month to complete.

There are double points on offer which is a blow for GUYOT Environnement-Team Europe because they finished last in the first two legs – that will also be the case for this leg which finishes in Itajai, Brazil.

Dutreux conceded the overall victory is almost certainly over, but he is confident the crew can show their quality in the other legs.

“For sure we know it’s going to be tough to win the overall but we have a lot of stories to write,” he added.

“We are better and better on performance and management. I am very proud of them. It’s a new challenge for us to be in Itajai.

“We can’t expect anything in the overall. We will try to win some legs, try our best and progress because for the moment it’s crazy how we progress every day.

“We had a good feeling at the start of this leg. If we continue like this we can be very good at the end of the race.”

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