The third leg of the Ocean Globe Race, the Whitbread-era-style around the world race, is underway from Auckland, New Zealand to Punta del Este, Uruguay on a classic Southern Ocean leg. However, the skipper of race leaders Translated 9, the Swan 65 which won both Legs 1 and 2, has stepped down after breaching the race rules regarding sail repairs and making a false declaration.
An investigation by Ocean Globe Race organisers found that three sails from Translated 9 – a genoa and two spinnakers – were sent to a sailmaker for inspection and repair in Auckland, New Zealand, following the team’s arrival after winning Leg 2. According to the Notice of Race, sails can not be sent to a sailmaker for repairs without approval and advanced notice, though a sailmaker can come aboard. Making repairs without approval can incur a 12-hour time penalty (for each sail).
Skipper Vittorio Malingri made a formal declaration to Ocean Globe Race HQ on 21 December 2023 that sails had not been removed from Translated 9. In fact, the sails had been sent to a sailmaker on 17 and 18 December. Malingri later confirmed this to Ocean Globe Race HQ and stated he felt “great remorse for his lapse of judgement”.
He subsequently resigned from the team, and the team incurred a total 172-hour penalty for the rule breaches and false declaration – 100 hours of which was suspended, subject to Translated 9 not breaching any further race rules.
