Vendée Globe

Bernard Stamm has managed to get Cheminées Poujoulat on to a temporary mooring off the Porte aux Francais  but not before the hull of Cheminées Poujoulat was damaged when the Open 60 was driven ashore in strong winds last night.

Frederic Martineau from TAAF – the Territorre Austral et Antartartic Francais – the organization based on the Kerguelen Islands – explained to this morning’s radio vacations what happened last night as Stamm tried to bring his Open 60 on to the temporary mooring in 45 knots of wind.

“ As Bernard Stamm arrived, the wind got up gusting to 50 knots.. He could not stop the boat and pull her alongside the buoy, in spite of some help from Dominique Wavre, who had gone on board. Very quickly the boat reached a patch of weed. He lost control of the boat  and found himself on the rocks. They inflated the liferaft, jumped in it and were taken ashore by Navy divers, who went into the water to help them. Ashore a medical team and vehicles were waiting for them. This morning it took us almost three hours to get the boat off with the help of the Marion Dufresnes and all the teams did a great job. Now the boat is afloat, but I don't think she can sail. We're waiting to see what Bernard Stamm wants to do. Yesterday evening, he was completely dispirited about leaving his boat.  It really got to him.  I think that after a night's sleep, which was very short and probably not very restful, he is feeling a little better this morning.” Said Martineau.

They had to wait for tide to rise (0800h UTC) and operation took three hours to pull her off with help of Marion Dufresne. The boat is floating and now moored, but seriously damaged.

Jean-Pierre Dick’s lead remains relatively static at 77.6 miles ahead of Mike Golding, GBR, (Ecover 3) who reported on his media call this morning that he was making 23 knots reaching almost fully powered up closing fast with the west end of the ice-gate.
He expects that the leaders will converge to a similar course, passing the gate. He was in 30 knots and was expecting the wind to build to 40 knots and more this afternoon.

“It is a bit stressful at the moment fully ballasted but we will be more downhill when we get the 40 knots, “ said Golding, “I took the opportunity of the gap in the weather yesterday to tidy the boat and make sure everything is OK, and make a repair to an autopilot ram.”

From this morning’s radio vacations, the French speaking skippers this morning are summarized here:

Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement):  After a calm period, we're getting ready for the next big blow.  At the moment 30-knot winds, so it's just beginning.  Over and over the same thing. This is an area and time of year, when I have had problems before, so of course, I have that on my mind.  It's not an obsession though.  We're all on the attack taking advantage of the calmer seas before the low moves in. We're all more or less in the same situation.  There are times when you have to be cautious and you have to listen and feel what is happening.

Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas): The front went over two days ago and another low moving in this afternoon.  Wind is variable for the moment. A bit of the mainsail was torn so he had to repair it with a  patch. 10-15 knots of wind and was under reduced sail during repairs so slowed down. The seas are beginning to build and it's raining.

Vincent Riou (PRB): Storm arriving.  Forestay broke during the night so unable to sail under jib.  Had anticipated the problem so well prepared.  Sail is intact, although not well furled.   Now under staysail.  42-43 knots of wind in the night and at the moment 33 knots, so expecting wind to shift soon.  sailing at 17-20 knots.  Thinks the Pacific may offer better seas with a long swell and cleaner seas allowing better speeds in safer conditions.  So much to do on the boat that it's not hard staying awake.  Harder sometimes to fall asleep.

Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux): Seas are getting rougher.  Getting greyer and colder in the evenings.    Expecting stronger winds later today.   Should be reaching the gate in ten hours or so.  Sailing with his latest friend, Jojo
 

Infos précédentes :