Two-time Olympic gold medallist Shirley Robertson, who was skippering the iShares boat at the Extreme 40 iShares Cup, crashed out of the event at the Cowes on the Isle of Wight yesterday. She had been on the race course for just three minutes when her boat collided against a spectator boat, throwing crew member Dee Caffari overboard and leaving a spectator badly injured.
The collision forced Robertson, the first British woman to have won an Olympic gold, to retire with a broken gennaker pole and damage to the bow.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Read related reports:
Sailing: British teams aim for gold at Women’s Match Racing and Laser Radial Worlds
Sailing: Hilary Lister sails the Irish Sea
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
“It was really disappointing to have the day cut short after only the first race. I only got wet but we were all upset to hear someone had been hurt,” said Caffari.
It has been reported that the teams had complained about ribs straying on to the race course before racing started but with no avail.
“We can only advise people to keep off the course but we will have to have a look at it,” a spokesman said.
Payoshni Mitra, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
Look out for Sportsister’s interview with Shirley Robertson coming soon on Sportsister.
