News

At 08.15GMT on Tuesday Boat 10 ‘What Ever It Takes’ reported they had water leaking into their aft cabin from the through hull bilge pump.  Despite several attempts to stop the leak, which included one of the team going into the water and attempting to seal around the pump from the outside with waterproof ‘putty’, they were unable to fix the problem. 

Having considered all their options and the potential consequences and risks the Team took the decision to retire from the Race.  Being almost 100nm out from Geraldton and the sea conditions being what can be described as rough it was decided the safest method of recovering the boat was to engage a local Cray-fishing boat to go out and take ‘What Ever It Takes’ in tow. 

With assistance form Duck in the Radio Room at the Fishermans Cooperative a suitable boat capable of undertaking the rescue/recovery in the rough sea conditions was found. Joel Burnett onboard his boat ‘Octagonal’ departed Geraldton late Wednesday evening and arrived with Boat 10 at first light Wednesday morning.  In difficult conditions the Team transferred to ‘Octagonal’ and ‘What Ever It Takes was taken in tow to the Abrolhos Island, North Island.

Once in the sheltered waters of the Abrolhos Islands ‘What Ever It Takes’ was lifted onboard ‘Octagonal’ and after resting overnight ‘Octagonal’ arrived back in Geraldton on Thursday morning with the ‘What Ever It Takes’ team and boat.

At the request of the ‘What Ever It Takes’ Team we were unable to report on this incident until the team had spoken to their families and addressed the media enquiries themselves.

See the Photos Section for pictures of the  boat and team arriving back in Geraldton.