HAMPSHIRE sailing legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnston remains free of the problems that have hit many of his fellow Route de Rhum competitors.

Of the 91 starters, 16 have abandoned the race for a variety of reasons.

The latest withdrawals include IMOCA Open 60 contender Vincent Riou, who won the 2004/05 Vendee Globe, and Pierre Antoine, skipper of the Multi50 Olmix who had to be airlifted off his boat after he sustained damage to his main hull in an electrical storm.

Antoine said: “The lightning struck the top of the mast. I later found the bulb from the masthead down on the ground. It came down through the mast right to the bottom.

“The boat is made of wood so it left a hole in the wood and right through the electrical cables which had caught fire.

“I thought first of all it was just alight, so I tried to put it out with the extinguisher, as I didn’t think there was any hole.

“When I went inside the boat, there was already 50 cm of water and she was beginning to go bow down.

“After that, the water just kept rising. I found bits of wood floating around.

“It’s the sort of thing that never happens. It’s crazy.

“Luckily I wasn’t inside the boat, seeing it had burnt everywhere.

“I could have been sitting in front of the computer. I can’t imagine what would have happened… The screens have exploded and everything turned to dust…”

Sir Robin is 11th in the Rhum class, where Sardinia’s Andrea Mura is repeating his act of 2010 and leading by 45 miles.

Sir Robin reported: “All well aboard.

“Put up more sail this morning. Nice to be showing as much as 15 knots occasionally, but for an older boat she does drive easily on a reach.

“Not sure of the wind speed as the wind direction and course has given up.”