11th Hour Racing team bows out of final leg of Ocean Race, files for redress

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (WLNE) — The Newport-based team 11th Hour Racing has decided to bow out of the seventh leg of the Ocean Race after colliding with another team yesterday.

The 11th hour collided with the French/German team’s ship GUYOT environnement-Team Europe during the beginning of the final portion of the race.

Both ships headed back to port for repairs, with the both teams announcing they would retire from the leg while damage is being assessed.

The 11th Hour, which are the current points leader after winning the last three legs of the race, said they will file for redress, meaning the World Sailing International Jury has discretion to award them points if it finds their score has been made worse due to no fault of their own.

The team said this is the best way they can attempt to gain enough points to win the race despite not taking part in the final leg. They will sail to Genova for the race’s grand finale after repairs are completed.

The Rhode Island-native team is just two points ahead of second place Team Holcim-PRB.

The final leg of the race is a 2200 nautical mile journey to Genova, Italy that is expected to conclude by June 27.

The race’s fourth leg, which brought it to Newport, shed light on the state’s sailing culture.