Alan Priddy's round the world speed record attempt was hijacked on Tuesday evening when the 10m RIB Spirit of Cardiff ran into an unlit and uncharted fish farm just off Valetta, Malta.
Alan Priddy’s round the world speed record attempt was hijacked on Tuesday evening when the 10m RIB Spirit of Cardiff ran into an unlit and uncharted fish farm just off Valetta, Malta.
The impact pulled the boat’s single outdrive away from the transom and attempts by the crew to extricate themselves from the fish farm’s boom using an auxiliary outboard were unsuccessful. Rescue was eventually provided by Grand Harbour Marina.
Bad weather had slowed progress on the first leg tfrom Gibraltar to around 20 knots. Badly-marked lobster pots off the Tunisian coast had also been a concern.
The crew are said to be assessing the situation with a view to repairing the boat before they carry on. Air Malta have offered to fly a new outdrive out from the UK and it is hoped the challenge can be resumed in the next two days.
