The ill-fated Cabin Fever reality TV game show ran into further trouble yesterday when the show's replacement ship had to be towed into port at Killybegs with gear-box problems.
There was also news that one of the new contestants, Mr Noel Hogan (29), from Ennis, Co Clare, had decided to quit the show, citing seasickness as the reason he "couldn't stay any longer".
The makers of the programme, CoCo Television, have said the latest setbacks will not affect the series' future.
The RTÉ series had previously been suspended after the original ship hit rocks and sank off Tory Island on Friday, June 13th, after only three episodes. It was relaunched last Sunday evening with a new ship, the Johanna Lucretia, new crew and two new contestants, including Mr Hogan.
Ms Karen Fitzpatrick, spokeswoman for CoCo Television, said the latest problem with the gear box problem was "not a serious problem at all" adding that "of course the programme will be on as usual. It was never in jeopardy."
The Johanna Lucretia would set sail this morning, said Ms Fitzpatrick, and arrive in Galway in time for Monday's programme.
On Mr Hogan's early departure, she said his fellow contestants and CoCo Television were "very disappointed".
"He has been seasick all week and that is just rotten for anyone. Everyone is a bit sick for the first few days but then get their sea legs. But he hasn't been keeping food down and he said that if he stayed any longer, he'd vomit on one of the other contestants."
