Sinem Kurtbay and Akseli Keskinen had to use a spare boat in the World Cup, which also broke.
Finland sailors with Olympic hopes Sinem Kurtbay and Central axis experienced quite a surprise at their training camp in Lanzarote.
A large turtle got stuck under the Finnish couple’s boat as a result of the Nacra 17 class boat’s foil or airfoil breaking.
“From the turtle’s point of view, it was really sad. There was only a loud sound. I hope the turtle survived. At the moment of the collision, the sun shone directly into the eyes”, Kurtbay recounted what happened at the Finnish Olympic Committee’s 100 days to Paris event in Helsinki.
The bad luck didn’t stop there. At the beginning of April, in the World Cup race sailed in Palma Mallorca, the foil of the spare boat also broke. The airfoil hit an object under the surface of the water at sea.
“Apparently it was hard plastic. Annoying because we don’t have a backup foil,” Kurtbay said.
In the World Cup, Kurtbay and Keskinen sailed seventh after difficulties.
“The boat kept leaking water, which added weight,” Kurtbay said.
Keskinen estimated that it would take six weeks to get new foils, and up to two months to get them working.
One foil costs about 4,000 euros, so it was a damage of 8,000 euros.
In addition to the foils, Kurtbay and Keskinen are missing the genoa, the headsail, ordered for the Olympic Games.
“After that, all you can do is call. It’s not under our control,” Kurtbay said.
On Sunday The Nacra couple starts preparing for the World Championships in La Grande Motte in France. The competitions start on May 7.
The Olympic regatta will be sailed in July-August in Marseille, where Kurtbay and Keskinen will move to train at the end of May.
“Marseille is a familiar place. I’ve been there training for at least five weeks,” Kurtbay said.
Last season, the Finns sailed in the Nacra 17 class and won World Championship bronze and European Championship silver.
Their achievements put them among the favorites in the Olympic Games, where sailing is one of Finland’s top sports.