Underwater object sinks Brian Thompson's record hopes

Daily Echo - 

A south coast yachtsman has been forced to abandon his bid to break the record for the fastest ever circumnavigation of the globe. 

Isle of Wight sailor Brian Thompson, pictured, and fellow crew on Banque Populaire V quit the Jules Verne Trophy because of a breakage on the 37-metre maxi trimaran, which can hit speeds of up to 60mph.

Helmsman/trimmer Brian, 48, and the other 13 other people on board were aiming to smash the world record of 48 days, seven hours and 45 minutes.

But after 14 days of sailing, and 324 miles ahead of schedule, they were stopped in their tracks by a damaged daggerboard caused by a collision with something under the water a few hundred miles from the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.

The crew tried everything to repair the broken piece without success and were forced to pull out.

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