Vincent Riou and Jean Le Cam met with the media in a packed conference at the Vendee Globe race direction HQ by Montparnasse. Le Cam described in detail his thoughts and actions from the minutes before he was capsized on his approach to Cape Horn, complemented by his rescuer Vincent Riou. Here is a first summary of what they said.
Q: What happened?
Jean : I was on starboard tack and gybed. Southernmost point in race. Things were going well . just had to stack... Vincent called. While talking heard a bang. Knew it was something serious as boat behaved strangely. Gave position to Vincent, but he didn't hear. Then called Michel (Ollivier, team manager VM Matériaux) via Iridium and 30 secs later boat capsized completely upside down. Closed one door but not second. Boat filled with water. Problem was cold, so grabbed clothes in vacuum pack and then put on survival suit. Got ready for what followed. Went to bow as dry. Got what was necessary floating around. Selected what was necessary. Food and water, survival bag and second survival suit and blanket.
Vincent: Heard him shout but didn't know why and when cut off was worried. Tried to call him back, but no answer. Still not sure what had happened. 15 mins later informed by Race Directors to divert.
Denis: I gave position to Julian (Hocken, Asst Race Director), who informed Vincent and Armel to divert to go to Jean. Informed Chilean Rescue Service, who responded immediately. Oil tanker going from
Jean: Got ready to wait for a few days. Knew that a plane would be quickest. Hearing plane meant he knew they knew where he was so reassured. But wondered whether it was a dream or reality. When Vincent arrived heard Vincent's voice and same question. Decided to wait. Second time, he understood it wasn't a dream. Needed to be sure.
Vincent: 0.6 miles away before he saw the boat thanks to oil tanker. Otherwise would have been very difficult and may have taken all day. Priority was to know whether Jean was OK. Prepared a few things to throw at boat. Passed by and missed the first time. Threw a tin against the boat and shouted. Hoarse. Pity nothing to make a noise on boat. Jean signalled he was there with flag and rocket. Bit of a surprise as rocket could have hit PRB's sails. No direct communications, so worried there was a serious problem. Feeling pessimistic. Thought he needed to be close in case Jean came out, but circling the boat is not easy. 30-45 mins later Armel took over, while he contacted Race HQ. Especially to show how much of boat was under water. Would need divers and they probably wouldn't be able to use emergency hatch. Armel had engine problem, so moved off. 3 or 4 times around the boat then saw boxes at stern and then Jean came out. He climbed onto hull
Jean: Saw the rocket marked easy and practical so thought of how to send that up. Just fitted through the hull, but a bit of a squeeze. First one went through emergency hatch, but second one fired. But a lot of smoke inside so had to stop doing that. First rule is not to leave the boat, so stayed there for a long time and couldn't see any way out as blocked by gennaker. Afraid of losing air bubble inside. Dived and smashed hatch, which broke and everything floated out. Saw the wind generator and ideally placed to grab hold of. A clear decision necessary. No room for hesitation. Dived underwater. Head back up out of water. Took a rope with him as experience with Tabarly. Realised he would need to tie himself to rudder.
Vincent: Saw Jean head for rudder. Only 15m away so managed to talk, but too far away to do much. Two attempts to get close and throw him a line, which failed. Had prepared that beforehand. Thought it was safer to throw line by hand. 3m-4m swell and for final attempt a bit closer 2-3m away. He caught line and tied it around him and knotted it. At the same time Vincent had several things to do at the same time with sails, steering and throwing line. PRB was on one wave and VM on another wave and the outrigger touched and he heard a noise. At the same time Jean had the line.
Q and A: Q: How much water inside?
Jean: No air within 2 metres of emergency hatch. Movement of water inside so completely flooded.
Q:Why was it so low?
Jean: Maybe water entered somehow. 600l of ballast at most, so that's not to blame as max of 400-500kg of weight. Doesn't know why.
Q: Any safety ideas for IMOCA?
Vincent: Drawing up a report to inform others. That may help them. Isabelle Autissier will be helping them write report to issue useful information. It would appear that sterns ride low in the water when upside down. Needs to be looked at. Something to make a noise may be useful too - a sort of horn. Questions about emergency hatch and survival suit.
Q: What's happening to PRB?
Vincent: In Ushuaia waiting for cargo to return to
Q: Was VHF not possible between boats?
Jean: Not with carbon hulls. Wanted to do something that was bound to be useful, so emergency food and clothes rather than trying to use VHF. For the next race, I would suggest a set of clothes were vacuum packed in a fixed place sealed as well as other Iridiums.
Q: Next Vendée Globe?
Jean: Wants to be back again next time. Cannot leave the VG like this!
Q: Mistakes to be avoided before the accident?
(Long, long silence, flummoxed by question)
Jean: More food on board. Vincent: Jean made a lot of mistakes...
Jean: Last time we were big rivals. This time we rounded the Horn together and we decided to be within sight of the Horn for the first time. Then 24 hours after the boat was dismasted. It's an accident. What could be worse in the Vendée Globe? Maybe there are worse things, but difficult to imagine.
Vincent: We had a good laugh to relax after the rescue.
Jean: It was worse than embarrassment when PRB was dismasted as my fault. Tried to tell myself it was all the fault of a container in sea, but I felt bad about it.
Q: Will sponsors be as present next time?
Vincent: Great race, a lot of media coverage. Very positive for companies. Essential to work hard to see more boats finish next time. Economic crisis? Jean: Companies need to do what they can to promote themselves particularly in a crisis and the Vendée Globe is a great way to promote a firm. Very efficient. When there is a crisis, you need others. My rescue shows that. In an economic crisis you need to communicate to contact others.
Q: What had you planned for the climb back up the
Jean: I could have caught Bilou, but Michel would have had to have a problem for me to catch him. My goal was grabbing second place ahead of Bilou.
Vincent: I had had a lot of technical and physical problems, so was looking forward to a climb up the
