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California Dismasted, Crew Safe

California’s rig goes the way of Cal’s ’10 NCAA Tournament trip.

Clipper Ventures
© Latitude 38 Media, LLC

In what has to be one of the most saddening developments to date for supporters of the first Golden State entry in the ’09-’10 Clipper ‘Round the World Race, our namesake boat California was dismasted Sunday evening some 1,800 miles from the Bay. Sailing under only a storm jib in 60-knot winds, the boat was rolled to 120º and came back up without its rig. The knockdown flooded the boat’s nav station, so skipper Pete Rollason’s only option was to activate the boat’s EPIRB while they could attempt repairs to their comms equipment. The Coast Guard scrambled a C-130 from Kodiak Island, Alaska, which dropped a radio to the boat — a feat we’d have liked to have seen.

Crewmember Clive Cockram got tossed across the cabin in the knockdown, splitting his head open in the process — an injury which, although apparently not life-threatening, caused him to be successfully medevaced to a nearby Danish commercial vessel for stitches. As of this writing, three of the other boats in the race have rendezvoused with California and have begun transferring fuel while the crew attempt to set up a jury rig to mitigate Cali‘s need for diesel. According to Clipper Ventures, the boats will convoy into the Bay for California‘s safety. One of those boats, Uniquely Singapore, was also knocked down in the same storm, and suffered some damage to the steering system that the crew has been able to effectively repair.

This is really a huge bummer. For one, it would have been great to see our state’s namesake sail through the Gate. Secondly, after a race that’s thus far been heavy on the breakdowns for our team, the crew was having a really good leg — running in the middle of the pack and well within striking distance of the leaders.

But there may be a silver lining. With Team Finland having just started the leg after having their replacement rig fitted in Qingdao, they are considerably behind schedule, with 3,500 miles to go yet. And given that California‘s replacement rig will have to be stepped once it gets here to the Bay, there’ve been hints from Clipper Ventures that the start date for the next leg may be moved back — which would give the boats more time on the Bay, and possibly give the mainstream media a chance to give them their due also . . . one can only hope.

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And yes, we mean Auckland, not Oakland. Having moved to the southern hemisphere, Jamie, Mera and Aeron have a new perspective on life.