At around 9h GMT this morning Swiss yachtsman Stève Ravussin’s trimranOrange Projecthad a violent collision with a container. The yacht was sailing at more than 20 knots under full mainsail and gennaker in a fresh northerly flow at the time.

Orange Projecthas had more than her fair share of hard knocks this year – last November she capsized during the Transat Jacques Vabre (pictured above). This time, the main daggerboard suffered first, although was fortunately raised when the collision occurred. The central rudder was totally destroyed. Located 140 miles north west of Florès Island in the Azores, the orange trimaran can no longer be steered.

Stève is however going to attempt to reach the islands, where his support team are going to try as rapidly as possible to reach him with a new rudder. Stève has not yet had the time to dive to take a look at the condition of the main hull. Although he hasn’t had time to dive down and look at the condition of the hull, as yet he hasn’t seen any sign of a leak, and is therefore hopeful that he’ll be able to carry on racing.