Vendée Globe

With the wind dropping a little and reports this morning of very limited visibility from some of the leaders, speeds have fallen slightly among the Vendee Globe pace-makers.

Jean-Pierre Dick’s lead has been shaved as he slants very slightly north, paralleling the course of Michel Desjoyeaux, while Mike Golding in second place and has gained just over 10 miles on the lead. This small compression sees third placed Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) gain eight miles, tracking Jean-Pierre Dick, while Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) – quickest between the rankings – has gained 11 miles. 

Those in the pack some 40 miles or so behind have continued quicker, Seb Josse (BT) making 12 miles on the lead and Jean Le Cam making most, 18.3 miles.

Fortunes are not with the Swiss skippers, both of whom have had to push hard since re-starting. Wavre was first to return to Les Sables d’Olonnne with an electrical charging issue, then Stamm hit what is reported to have been a cargo ship later on that first night.

Yesterday Dominique Wavre had the shock of losing control of his keel and this morning Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat), 12^th, has just reported damage to his rudder stock bearings which he does not think he can fix at sea given the conditions.

He has just told the radio vacations that the rudder stock bearings are crushed and broken and the lower gudgeon attachment is not well fixed in place.  He is under reduced sail.  Cannot see any way to repair. He is still considering his options, but cannot imagine a solution.  He told the radio vacations that it happened suddenly. A few days ago it started making a noise.  Yesterday he lifted rudder out and saw it had got much worse.

Dominique Wavre has just reported that he should stop in the Kerguelens in around an hour and is inside the Bay of Morbihan. He has just said that the keel came loose shortly after a big broach. He has no idea how long it will take him to effect a repair which is sufficient to secure the keel and stop it moving from side to side, but his departure towards Australia will be dependent on suitable weather.

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