Green Dragon suffer blow in Volvo race
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Your support makes all the difference.The game of two halves which is the fourth leg of the Volvo round the world race turned into a survival game for the crew of Green Dragon today. Without warning, the forestay which holds up the mast and carries the headsails broke.
Quick reactions meant that a dismasting was avoided and makeshift cables were rigged to give support. But it means that the Irish-backed entry, racing to its joint home port in the Olympic sailing city of Qingdao, will be severely hampered.
There are 1,500 miles to go and British skipper Ian Walker said: "This is a bitter disappointment. I have no idea why it should break now. The important thing is that nobody was hurt. We will keep sailing as fast as we can without jeopardising the rig."
All of the boats move into more rugged territory this weekend as the fleet of seven negotiates first the obstacle which is Taiwan and then braces itself for the upwind battle with vicious seas and freezing gales.
Click below to listen to Stuart Alexander talk to Ian Walker
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