Technical stopover in Hobart planned for Thomas Coville

Clearly slowed and compromised slightly over recent days Thomas Coville the skipper of the ARKÉA ULTIM CHALLENGE-Brest's second placed Sodebo Ultim 3 will stop in Tasmania his team announced Tuesday, at 1830hrs UTC. Part of his bow pulpit and the port side net have been damaged. His arrival into Hobart is expected Wednesday evening.

For the Sodebo team, this decision is "a safety and security decision". Part of the bow pulpit (the area at the front of the central hull) has been torn off - the same as what happened to Armel Le Cléac'h during his descent down the Atlantic. The port side trampoline net which allows the sailor to move from the bow to the central hull is also damaged.

"These are essential safety elements for going forward safely without the risk of falling into the water". His team statement says.

"For safety reasons I don't feel capable of committing to the Pacific Ocean like this," explains Thomas Coville The choice has been made to make a technical stopover before passing into the Pacific. With no further stopping options between Tasmania until after Cape Horn, Hobart is an obvious choice for Team Sodebo.

They also plan to service and fix the foil lowering systems which have suffered mechanical problems. "The stopover allows us to "time out" from the very severe weather conditions between Tasmania and New Zealand in the next 48 hours." The team add.

These conditions will affect Armel Le Cléac'h. In a display of sporting and human solidarity Coville called Le Cléac'h, skipper of the Maxi Banque Populaire XI, to tell him of his plans.

"I needed to warn him of my intention to stop. In our sport we have this way of thinking, he needed to know. It's a strange feeling to have to stop but it's to be able to start again better."

Sodebo Ultim 3 is expected in Hobart this Wednesday. This will be the 5th stopover since the start of this ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE-Brest: only Charles Caudrelier (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild), still in the lead, has not stopped since the start.

Follow the race tracking on www.arkeaultimchallengebrest.com/en