After making a strong start to the first five days of her first Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe race of Italian-American skipper Francesca Clapcich (11th Hour Racing) looks set to be compromised by the loss last night of the bowsprit of her IMOCA.

J0 problems and broken bowsprit on 11th Hour Racing

The bowsprit on 11th Hour Racing broke off after Clapcich had struggled first of all with J0 sail, which fell into the water and also wrapped on the J2 forestay while being deployed in the darkness.

It was after recovering the J0 that Francesca was setting her Fractional Code Zero sail when the bowsprit broke. Pictures from onboard show it had sheared off at the stem. “The entire bowsprit structure exploded,” explained Francesca. “So I don’t have a bowsprit anymore.”