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NEWS
Onboard video: 'Team Vesta's' smash
First onboard video from the Volvo Ocean Race's dramatic crash into a remote but charted reefTeam Vestas Wind's nine ship-wrecked men are back to civilisation, telling of their amazing escape from a collision with an Indian Ocean reef which grounded their boat.
The unshaven, exhausted, uninjured team were holed up, incommunicado, for three days in the remote archipelago after their boat ran into the reef last Saturday afternoon at 1510 UTC.
"I’m really disappointed of course," said Chris Nicholson, their 45-year-old skipper from Australia, shortly after arriving at dockside in Mauritius.
"On the other hand, we have to realise how fortunate we are for everyone to be here in one piece, and to be healthy. It’s pretty amazing, so there’s a lot of emotions at the moment."
"It’s clear that human error is responsible for the shipwreck, there’s no avoiding that. And as skipper, I take ultimate responsibility."
Team Vesta smashed into the coral rock at 19 knots — the equivalent of 35 kilometres an hour — in their 65-foot boat, spun 180 degrees and crashed to a halt, grounded on the reef.
They remained on the reef until the small hours of the following morning, before abandoning the boat in pitch darkness and wading in knee-deep water to a dry position on the reef, led by Nicholson.
A small boat from the local coastguard then took them early on Sunday to a small islet, Íle du Sud, which is known as a favourite with shark-watching holiday-makers.
Their blue vessel, caught underneath breaking waves, is badly damaged, but the crew decided to remain for an extra 24 hours to complete a clean-up operation around the area.
Investigations are continuing. Here's the onboard video of the smash.
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Written byBoatsales Staff
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