THE Lt-Governor’s son’s efforts in a single-handed, round-the-world non-stop yacht race have been hampered after his boat struck a whale.

Artemis Ocean Racing II, Jonny Malbon’s Imoca 60, struck the whale while travelling at 15 knots in the South Atlantic.

The British skipper (pictured) said one of the vessel’s two daggerboards had been seriously damaged but the structure surrounding it was intact and the boat itself was fine.

‘We have not taken on any water,’ he said. ‘I will be continuing to race and will monitor the condition of both the board and the boat.’

The Vendee Globe race began at Les Sables d’Olonne on France’s west coast 23 days ago and the 34-year-old, who is taking part for the first time, is currently 18th of the 25 boats left in contention. The winner is expected to complete the 21,760-mile voyage in about 90 days.

The incident was not the skipper’s first encounter with a whale. About four years ago, while captaining a vessel that was being delivered to the United States for Ellen McArthur, a similar event occurred.