After discovering the damage, Szabolcs – who is a professional rigger - worked tirelessly to find a solution that would allow him to continue safely. Despite his determination and ingenuity, none of the possible repairs provided enough confidence to stabilize the rig.
Combined with earlier setbacks, including significant damage to his mainsail and the loss of his A7 sail, continuing the race is deemed unsafe.
The D2 is one of the most fragile cables in rig set like on the New Europe boat. It is the thinnest one and supports the upper part of the mast from bending and deformation. These cables specifically supports the main forestay, J2 jib and fractional gennaker attachment points as well as the mainsail when set up with reef 2. Damage to the D2 would likely to result in the loss of the mast in strong wind conditions.
On New Europe all cables were replaced this year, 2024, and carefully adjusted to all specifications. The technical team suggests that this damage is most likely related to the knock down which occurred earlier in the race when top of the mast touched the water.
In the prevailing conditions Weöres was sailing with a small fractional gennaker and under mainsail with two reefs. With the rapid shock and instant overload, the cable could have sustained internal damage. Further into the race, the boat repeatedly encountered difficult wind and wave conditions, which caused the mast to vibrate. This most likely caused the hidden damage to worsen and become critical.
For two days after this incident, while sailing in 30-35 knot winds, the torn A7 gennaker, which was stuck wrapped around the forestay, caused additional incalculable loading on the rig.
