In a message distributed late this morning, the Banque Populaire team has confirmed that Armel Le Cléac'h's ULTIM Maxi Baque Populaire XI, racing in second place on the ARKÉA ULTIM CHALLENGE-Brest, has suffered damage to the central rudder after an incident. According to the team, "Several options are being studied to diagnose the damage and to think about the rest of the race".

Le Cléac'h is diverting to a Brazilian port. He has been lying in second place since racing in the Pacific. He had to make a technical stopover in Recife, Brazil on 16th January during the outwards phase of this solo multihull race round the world.