Vendée Globe

Bernard Stamm, SUI, (Cheminées Poujoulat) is the latest skipper to report problems, not 24 hours after the keel damage of his compatriot Dominique Wavre

That regular maxim trotted out by skippers, teams and media during the pre-race months is never more applicable now. ‘To finish first, first you have to finish.’

Stamm’s trouble, collapsing bearings which have made his leeward rudder hard to move, means he will be the third skipper in four days to report damage serious enough to require the skipper to stop to make repairs, or, ultimately, to abandon.

The Swiss skipper has reduced sail Stamm’s idea is to make for Fremantle, Australia – about 14 days sailing away under unless the problem worsens, in which case he will head for the Kerguelen Islands. He said he is not confident that he may be able to make repairs. The problem was noted a few days ago and the rudder bearings had been grating, as well as play being felt, but during one hour period most of the remaining workings of the bearings had collapsed.

Ironically both Swiss skippers had to return to Les Sables d’Olonne consecutively within hours of each other, and now some 33 days and 10,000 miles of sailing later, they suffer serious problems within 24 hours of each other.

Wavre moored Temenos II in the Bay of Morbihan at 1230 GMT helped into position by several ribs, the Swiss skipper announced his official abandonment of his third Vendée Globe race this afternoon. He will try to effect a temporary solution to hold the keel-head in place, before probably heading to Australia. So far four masts have failed, Bestaven’s Aquarelle.com. Thiercelin’s DCNS, De Pavant’s Groupe Bel and Peyron’s Gitana Eighty, as well as the spreader root damage which forced Jérémie Beyou (Delta Dore) to retire in Brasil. Rudder damage so far accounted for the retirement of Unai Basurko, ESP, (Pakea Bizkaia) and has compromised Stamm.

And again today there were stark reminders of the small incidents which can become bigger tribulations when the malicious, mixed up sea conditions conspire with either mechanical breakdowns or very strong winds to remind the skipper of his or her vulnerability. Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) today reported that an intermittent problem with his autopilot yesterday had forced him to broach and Chinese gybe in succession, as well as a nerve shredding experience when the pilots would not engage while he was left fighting to steer the boat as well as trying to furl away the gennaker with his other hand. Thompson reported that the boat had been all but knocked over during one incident, during which he was left hanging on to the helm with the boat ‘at about 80 degrees’.

Jonny Malbon, GBR, (Artemis II) admitted ‘I am dead on my feet’ this morning. He had seen more than 55 knots of wind and had had to lower his mainsail completely.

Jean Pierre Dick continues to lead the fleet by 41.1 miles from Mike Golding, GBR, (Ecover 3) and Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) who were sharing second place on the same mileage behind Paprec-Virbac 2.

Dominique Wavre (Temenos II), in the Kerguelen Islands: «Things aren't brilliant.  The boat has been injured.  I'm relieved that I got through it in the end. I was sailing at full speed, when the keel head broke and the boat went over on her side.  I bore away, furled the gennaker and lowered the mainsail.  Then I got her moving slowly.  The keel is loose and swinging under the boat.  If it swings at more than 40°, there is the danger of damage to the hull and we could be looking at the boat sinking.  I have been through my period of grieving for this Vendée Globe. I'm just entering Morbihan Bay (Kerguelens). We're going to try to temporarily fix the keel in place and then wait for a break in the weather to head off to Australia. We're going to wait for the bad weather that is forecast for the next two days to go by. I'd like to thank everyone, who supported me and sent me sympathy messages last night.»

Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat): «My rudders aren't broken, but the bearings around the gudgeon attachment have worn away.  They are a bit like ball-bearings, but with pintles. These pintles have been crushed and broken. I'm going to have to think it through, but for the moment I can't see any solution.»

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