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Severe weather hits Fastnet crews Severe weather hits Fastnet crews
(30 minutes later)
More than 80 yachts competing in the Fastnet yacht race have been forced to take shelter due to adverse weather. More than 80 boats competing in the Fastnet yacht race have been forced to seek shelter due to adverse weather.
Organisers have been assessing the severe weather hitting the Dorset and Devon coastline. Some have even pulled out completely after suffering damage off the Dorset and Devon coastlines.
Coastguards are watching the situation as so far 80 teams out of 300 have retired and sought shelter in ports. Around 300 yachts left Cowes on Monday to cover the 608 miles to Queen Anne's Battery in Plymouth via Fastnet rock.
A number of boats have been damaged or had theirs masts broken. Hundreds of skippers left Cowes on Monday to start the 608-mile race. The prestigious race should have started on Saturday morning but was postponed after organisers received a severe weather warning.
The South West-based skipper Pete Goss is among those who has retired.
He had been reunited with former Team Philips crewmates Paul Larsen and Andy Hindley for the challenge.
Trich Jenkins, from the Royal Ocean Racing Club, said: "We expect more yachts to retire as the day goes on."
Hole in the mainsail makes carrying on folly. Gutted Matthew Pinsent, Aviva Ocean Racing
Portland Coastguard said a number of boats were sheltering along the Dorset and Devon coastline and in ports, including Torbay, Plymouth and Weymouth.Portland Coastguard said a number of boats were sheltering along the Dorset and Devon coastline and in ports, including Torbay, Plymouth and Weymouth.
Hampshire yachtswoman Dee Caffari, has pulled out of the race. Trish Jenkins, from the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC), said: "We expect more yachts to retire as the day goes on."
Matthew Pinsent, who is aboard Ms Caffari's Aviva Ocean Racing, said (in online diary):"Withdrawing from race and heading back to Southampton. Hole in the mainsail makes carrying on folly. Gutted." Hole in the mainsail makes carrying on folly. Gutted Matthew Pinsent Aviva Ocean Racing
Salcombe lifeboat has also rescued a 36-year-old man who broke his leg on board one yacht. The man has been taken to hospital. Hampshire's Dee Caffari has already pulled her yacht, Aviva Ocean Racing, out of the race.
The race is due to finish at Queen Anne's Battery in Plymouth. Olympic rowing champion Matthew Pinsent, who is aboard Ms Caffari's boat, said the decision was hard to take.
Weather check "Withdrawing from race and heading back to Southampton," he wrote in his diary on the BBC Sport website. "Hole in the mainsail makes carrying on folly. Gutted."
The race was expected to begin on Saturday morning but was postponed after organisers received a severe weather warning. Salcombe lifeboat has also rescued a 36-year-old man who broke his leg on board one yacht. He has been taken to hospital.
The 300-strong field is the largest since the disastrous race of 1979.The 300-strong field is the largest since the disastrous race of 1979.
Seventeen sailors died in that event after the yachts were caught in a vicious storm off the south coast of Ireland.Seventeen sailors died in that event after the yachts were caught in a vicious storm off the south coast of Ireland.
A spokesman from the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) said the decision to delay the start was made after the severe weather warnings were issued by the Met Office. The RORC said the decision to delay the start was made after the severe weather warnings were issued by the Met Office.
The RORC said its policy was to only start the race "when it is safe to do so". The RORC added that its policy was to only start the race "when it is safe to do so".