The American Yacht Thursday’s Child Restarts Solo Around-the-World Race

A yacht involved in a collision at the start of a 27,500-mile solo race around the world restarted Sunday as 23 other boats from 10 countries completed the first 100 miles in the second annual BOC Challenge.

Thursday’s Child, piloted by American Warren Luhrs, was hit in the stern Saturday by Ecureuil D’Aquitane, skippered by Frenchman Titouan Lamazou.

Lamazou was trying to avoid a small craft when it hit Thursday’s Child. Luhrs was towed to port with rudder damage and a broken antennae. While being towed to the director’s boatyard, Thursday’s Child suffered further damage when the keel ran over an unmarked, underwater cable.

Luhrs declined to file a protest with the racing committee against Lamazou, saying the collision was not intentional. Spokeswoman Kathy Giblin said Luhrs would instead request a time allowance while making repairs.

Another yacht piloted by South African Burtie Reed--the first over the Narragansett Bay starting line Saturday--returned to shore when its autopilot steering mechanism failed to work.

“It doesn’t mean he’s quitting,” Giblin said of Reed, who placed second in the first BOC Challenge four years ago. Reed will drop anchor and attempt to repair the device.

The skippers were expected to reach Cape Town, South Africa, by mid October. They will then sail to Sydney, Australia, before heading to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and back to Newport. Sailors get two-to-three-week stopovers at each port to repair damage and restock their boats. They are not expected to return until spring.