Cork Clipper to be left on reef as salvage impossible

THE Irish entry in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, which hit a reef in the Java Sea off Indonesia on Friday, cannot be salvaged and will be lost to the sea.

Surveyors and salvage experts examined the Cork Clipper over the weekend and advised the race organisers, Clipper Ventures, last night that the boat would be so weakened by the pounding she has taken on the reef that she would not survive being dragged off the shelf, made buoyant and a 450-mile tow to Singapore.

And even if this were possible, the extent of the damage put the vessel beyond economic repair, they said.

“It is with very great sadness that we have to accept that Cork Clipper will remain on the reef as we lose her to the sea,” legendary round-the-world sailor and chairman of the race organisers, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston said.

“This is the first loss Clipper has experienced in seven races and since the first race in 1996, more than two million miles of racing has been safely and successfully completed.”

However, race organisers are examining the option of providing a replacement boat so that the Cork colours can rejoin the race in the later legs.

Cork Clipper hit a submerged reef in the early hours of Friday while racing in 20 knot winds from Geraldton in Western Australia to Singapore.

All 16 crew members had to abandon the ship, which was lying on her side and pounded by heavy waves, and used life rafts to reach the small island of Gossogn Mampango. The crew then used life rafts to reach two other participants in the race, California and Team Finland.

Cork Clipper was sponsored jointly by Cork County Council, Cork City Council and Fáilte Ireland.