The Swiss sailing team Holcim PRB submitted “a formal protest” against Allagrand Mapei Racing after the serious collision at the start of the Ocean Race Europe.
This was announced by race director Phil Lawrence on Sunday evening. The incident is “treated by the international jury at a time to be determined”, said Lawrence.
Just two minutes after the start in Kiel, the collision came when the teams sailed side by side. Both boats were significantly damaged and immediately returned to the port.
In the fuselage of the Holcim-PRB, a crack gaped after the incident, and the Mapei team was affected by the Mapei team. The crew members remained intact, giving up is not an option for any of the teams. “At the moment we assume that both teams hope to get back into the race,” said Lawrence.
A total of seven yachts started in the second edition of the race in the first stage from Kiel to Portsmouth, including the Malizia team with the German skipper Boris Herrmann, which is currently in third place.
It goes over 8300 kilometers from Kiel via Portsmouth/England, Cartagena/Spain, Nice/France and Genoa/Italy in the Bay of Kotor/Montenegro. The sailing is made with IMOCA inaugurated boats, which are also used in the Vendée Globe globe.