The Da Nang-Vietnam boat was hit by a heavy storm this week, forcing the team to retire from the current leg of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

The Department of Foreign Affairs of Da Nang City on Thursday issued an announcement on the retirement of the Da Nang-Vietnam team during the ongoing race.

The boat was knocked down by a large wave at 10:15 pm on Monday, causing damage to the port side binnacle and helming bars.

Skipper Wendy Tuck and some crew members suffered minor injuries while another member, Bridget Keevil, sustained a small cut to the eye and nose, according to the competition’s website.

The team has decided to retire from the race and motorsail for the moment as they make the rest of the way to Seattle, it says.

The rest of the 12-yacht fleet is expected to arrive in Seatle between April 15 and 20.

The Vietnam-Da Nang boat will be fixed in Seattle and then continue the race.

Dang Viet Dung, deputy chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee, said on Wednesday that local authorities support the team’s decision to retire.

This has been the ninth journey of the race, namely Seattle Pacific Challenge, according to the organizers.

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is the biggest challenge of the natural world and an endurance test.

With no previous sailing experience necessary, it is a record breaking 40,000 nautical mile race around the world on a 70-foot ocean racing yacht in nearly one year.

This year, the race which kicked off in August last year and is expected to conclude in July, attracts 12 teams representing 12 countries.

Among the participating yachts is the Da Nang-Vietnam team with 58 crew members, aged 18 to 66, of 12 nationalities, including one from Da Nang.

Contenders reached the central Vietnamese city on February 17 and left ten days later as part of their race through 17 destinations around the globe.

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