Regatta in Germany on Monday.

After sailing home in 10th place in the opening race on Sunday, Blythe Walker and Ray DeSilva were left wondering what they had done to deserve such bad luck, when another boat collided with theirs leaving a huge hole in the keel.

The extensive damage to the boat they will be sailing next month in Barcelona not only ended their regatta it also presented them with a massive repair job.

The boat is now on its way to a factory in Hamburg to be fixed in time for their Olympic challenge.

But Walker and DeSilva have lost their last chance to sail in competition before the big event.

They were 10th out of 65 boats before Monday's catastrophe forced their early withdrawal.

The pair have been away from the Island since mid-April taking part in a series of regattas throughout Europe in a bid to hit form at the right time.

The pair's schedule included the European Championships in Cadiz, Spain, and the Spa Olympic Regatta in Medimblik, Holland.

DeSilva was heading back to Bermuda yesterday, while Walker was planning to accompany the coach of the Brazilian team to Norway once Kiel Week is over.

Once the boat is ready for action again, the pair will make tracks for Barcelona, hoping that, just for once, nothing will go wrong.