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Scarborough Round the World Sailor Still Struggling with Barnacles

The Scarborough Sailor taking part in the Golden Globe round the world yacht race doesn't think he's going to make it to the checkpoint in Australia on time.

Guy Waites has been slowed to a crawl by a Barnacle infestation on his yachts hull.

Guy says he's now considering taking the boat out of the Water when he gets to Cape Town to sort the issue after his efforts at sea failed to remove the hitch-hikers.

The Golden Globe round the world race is a solo yacht race using only the technology that was available in 1968. Thirteen contestants set off from France in September the leaders are currently in the southern oceans heading from South Africa to Australia while Guy currently trails them by around 4,000 nautical miles.

Along the route the skippers need to check in at a number of checkpoints, the third is at Hobart in Tasmania and is the only one with a time limit. Guy will need to be there before 1200 local time on 31 January 2023.

Guy says he has been making slow progress as a result of the drag that the barnacles are adding to his vessel and that reaching Hobart on time is now looking doubtful given that he hasn't yet made it to Cape Town in South Africa.

Guy says he is determined to complete the circumnavigation of the globe, even if he misses the Hobart deadline and gets removed from the race.

The barnacle issue has now plagued Guy for a number of weeks, a situation which he has found deeply frustrating.

Last week fellow competitor Tapio Lehtinen was rescued from the Southern Indian Ocean after his yacht sank. The Finnish sailor activated his Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon and Liferaft Personal Locator Beacon following the sinking of his vessel.

He was picked up some 24 hours later by Golden Globe Race competitor Kirsten Neuschäfer before being transferred to the bulk carrier M.V. Darya Gayatri which had been 250 nm NW of Tapio’s position bound for China.

Tapio is now safe onboard the M.V. Darya Gayatri, he has no money, no passport, and no glasses, but is said to be in good health and good spirits.

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