Yachting: Storm batters Auckland-Noumea fleet

An overnight storm has dismasted one yacht and sent most of the fleet contesting the Auckland-Noumea race fleeing for shelter.

Race organisers said that Bullrush had retired after breaking its mast, yachting website sail-world.com reported today. There are no injuries to the crew, and the yacht is motoring back to Auckland.

Two yachts, V5 and Limit, are still racing and well out into the Pacific, north-west of Cape Reinga.

Gusts of up to 52 knots were recorded at Cape Reinga overnight.

The event's race tracker indicated most of the fleet had withdrawn or suspended racing, heading south for shelter as they wait for conditions to improve before heading out into the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean.

- NZPA