Durban 2010 and Beyond, one of the ten yachts competing in the Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race has been dismasted during the race from Qingdao, China, to Hawaii.

At 0610 GMT on the 19th day of the 4,400-nautical mile Pacific Ocean leg, the team representing Durban, South Africa, contacted the Race Office to report that they had been dismasted at deck level, whilst sailing in approximately 20 knots of wind.

There are no injuries on board and the crew of 16, including the professional skipper, is in the process of clearing the decks, cutting away the trailing rigging to prevent damage to the 68-foot yacht’s hull from the 81-foot (24.5 metre) mast, which weighs approximately one tonne.

The yacht, currently 780 miles from the finish line in Honolulu, Hawaii, remains seaworthy and a full assessment of the damage is underway.

Durban 2010 and Beyond’s dismasting is not thought to have been caused in the same manner as westernaustralia2011.com’s rig failure on Wednesday 5 March. A new mast has already been ordered and is awaiting a delivery date. Replacement sails are also being sourced.

With 85 percent of this stage of the race complete, as a precautionary measure in the interest of the safety of the crews taking part in the Clipper Race, which is always the paramount consideration for race organiser Clipper Ventures Plc, the Race Committee, headed by renowned yachtsman, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, has told the rest of the fleet to stop racing and to proceed to Honolulu. The results for Race 7 will be taken from their schedule positions at 0600 GMT today, 13 March.

Durban 2010 and Beyond currently does not need assistance and will motor towards Honolulu as soon as the remainder of the rigging has been made safe. Uniquely Singapore and Qingdao, two of the other yachts competing in the Clipper 07-08 Round the World Yacht Race, have been diverted to rendezvous with the South African boat in the next 36 hours to transfer fuel and offer any support the team needs.

The crews’ next of kin are being informed and further information is being gathered by the Race Team and will be issued as soon as practicable.

The repairs to both masts and rigs will be up to £100k and Clipper Ventures Plc has insurance covering 67 percent of claimable costs.

Although the exact cause of this morning’s incident is still unknown, all the indications are that this dismasting and that of westernaustralia2011.com are not related and purely coincidental, however we have taken steps to reduce exposure to the possibility of further similar incidents.

As this stage, pending further discussions with rigging suppliers and our maintenance teams we believe the incident will not cause a significant delay in the race.

For more information visit: www.clipperroundtheworld.com