SAILING:Both Green Dragon and Team Delta Lloyd have been forced to find shelter on the Philippines coast after both boats were damaged as the Volvo Ocean race fleet took a battering on the fourth leg to Qingdao in China.
Dutch-Irish entry Team Delta Lloyd damaged the main and steering while the crew were putting a third up a third reef in stormy weather.
Green Dragon reported some structural damage to the bow of the boat, with the crew required to reinforce the forward ring frame before re-bonding the hull.
Conditions in the notorious Straits of Luzon have been savage, with winds in excess of 50 knots and over 10 metre seas reported.
Green Dragon skipper Ian Walker took the decision to head inshore to assess the damage and affect repairs. The two boats are anchored in a harbour just north of Vigan, approximately 1000 miles from Qingdao.
Current forecasts suggest that conditions will start to ease over the next 36 hours allowing a more favourable weather window.
"The conditions have been horrendous as we have tried to cross the Straits of Luzon, we have seen conditions in excess of 45 knots and a very aggressive sea state," reported Walker.
"With the existing damage to the forestay and the structural damage to the bow we have made the decision to turn in towards the Philippine coast to seek shelter.
"Our intention is to make some repairs and get underway. We have some materials and some know-how and we will use a bit of ingenuity," added Walker
Team Delta Lloyd skipper Roberto Bermúdez de Castro said: "I am very disappointed, since we did so well and the guys worked really hard.
"But my priority is the safety of the crew and boat and the upcoming conditions were too dangerous. The Volvo open 70 is not designed for that," he added.