Ericsson 4, racing in leg one of the Volvo Ocean Race, has dropped off trimmer/helmsman Tony Mutter/NZL in the Cape Verde Islands as the team takes every precaution with his knee that has become infected. On Thursday, the team medics onboard the race yacht, Phil Jameson and Stu Bannatyne, were called to put their pre-race medical training into use as they drained some fluid from the infected area.
But the injury did not respond to treatment as well as they hoped and the team took the opportunity of their proximity to the Cape Verde Islands to evacuate Mutter off the boat. This was the recommended course of action by the Volvo Ocean Race medical team. The next reasonable opportunity to get him off the boat wouldn¹t come until the rounding of Fernando de Noronha, an Island off the coast of Brazil, some four days away.
This evening, the team made a move off its heading to sail towards Mindelo on the Island of Sao Vicente. Mutter was then transferred to a fishing vessel to be taken ashore for medical supervision.
Skipper Torben Grael/BRA said the decision to ensure proper medical treatment for Mutter was easy. Tony Mutter is understandably very disappointed.
