Yachting: Praise for crew after tragic race leg

ABN Amro Two has arrived in Portsmouth to bring an end to the traumatic seventh leg of the round-the-world yacht race.

The young international crew, who include New Zealander Scott Beavis, not only had to deal with the death of Dutch sailor Hans Horrevoets on the leg from New York to Portsmouth but also had to rescue the crew of the Spanish entry movistar, who were forced to abandon their sinking yacht.

The team were greeted by hundreds of wellwishers at Portsmouth, including rival teams, race officials, families and friends who applauded as the yellow and green yacht docked.

Horrevoets' body had earlier been transferred to a Royal Netherlands Navy frigate near Falmouth, as French skipper Seb Josse and his crew stood in silence. The body of the 32-year-old, who fell overboard during the race, will be taken back to his hometown of Terheijden.

Before the transfer, the crew of movistar boarded rescue boats and were taken ashore at Falmouth.

ABN Amro Two went to movistar's rescue after the Spanish boat experienced keel problems and started taking on water.

Movistar skipper Bouwe Bekking made the decision to abandon ship ahead of worsening weather.

All 10 crew, including New Zealander Stu Bannatyne, were transferred to ABN Amro Two.

Volvo Ocean Race chief executive Glenn Bourke, in Falmouth with the movistar crew, said they were hugely indebted to Josse and the crew of ABN Amro Two for their "heroic" help.

"It can't have been easy for Seb and the guys in the tragic circumstances in which they found themselves," Bourke said.

"It is a measure of their courage and professionalism that they stood by the stricken movistar until the weather conditions allowed a successful transfer and then ensured their safe passage to Falmouth."

ABN Amro One, skippered by New Zealander Mike Sanderson, won the seventh leg, which sealed their victory in the race with two legs to spare.

Sanderson's team took line honours on Sunday, nine days after leaving New York. The race finishes in Sweden in next month.