In the late afternoon of 1 May Amer Sports Too, the all girl entry in the Volvo Ocean Race, was dismasted while sailing in moderate conditions. No-one was injured and there is enough mast left – about 10 metres – to set up a reasonable jury rig.

But the dilemma facing the girls is whether to push on the 2,500 miles to La Rochelle and risk not arriving in time for repairs and the re-start or turning round and heading for Halifax and have the boat shipped to France and re-rigged with the spare mast.

However, with strong westerly winds forecast conditions are not perfect for beating to windward with a jury rig, which should be able to power them downwind fast enough to be in La Rochelle within little over 2 weeks. The ‘spare’ Volvo 60, Spirit, shadowing the fleet, is hoping to rendezvous with the girls to pass over extra supplies and fuel.