Vendée Globe

At 1420 GMT this Friday afternoon Swiss skipper Dominique Wavre notified the Vendée Globe Course Directors that he had broken the head of the keel of Temenos II which means that the keel can no longer be held at a canted angle.

The skipper reported that he is safe and sound, but says that the keel is now swinging free under the boat.

The keel head is the top part of the keel blade located inside the boat. Connected to two hydraulic rams, it is the lever that enables the keel to be canted to one side or the other of the boat.

If the keel head is broken, the blade and 3-tonne bulb are now no longer fixed in position. The Swiss skipper is aware of the danger of losing his keel or losing control of it, with the risk of damage to the hull. Wavre is concerned about these dangers and are considering the all of the options, including abandoning the boat. That is not yet the case Dominique Wavre and the skipper and his team are working on all contingencies.

He has reduced sail and filled Temenos II’s ballast tanks and is going to attempt to sail at reduced speed in the direction  of the Kerguelen Islands approximately 151 miles to the North East or Australia.  

Wavre  has now  confirmed that he is making NE under two reefs  and small headsail  with the mainsail  twisted off as much as possible. He anticipates arriving at  the Bay of  Moribhan around  0900hrs  GMT Saturday morning. 

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