Vendée Globe

November 10. 2008 at 20:47Short delay

Apologies but there is a short delay to the publication of the 2000hrs local/1900hrs GMT classifications.

November 10. 2008 at 19:26Fifth skipper returning

Derek Hatfield on Algimouss Spirit of Canada is reported to now be the fifth skipper who is returning to Les Sables d'Olonne. He is the third citing some form of electrical problems as the reason to return to the start port.

November 10. 2008 at 18:57Message from Arnaud Boissières

"We can't wait for the front to arrive. Everything is very wet and we have 3 reefs and are sailing under ORC storm jib. There are some huge waves, the visibility is reduced and there are cargo ships all around. I took advantage of that to try out the radar. Several times, I had to stack the gear away. The stacking boxes tend to get thrown around right up to the ceiling. Everything is fine and I'm pleased to be at sea."

November 10. 2008 at 18:15 Jean-Baptiste Dejeanty heading back to les Sables d’Olonne

The skipper of Groupe Maisonneuve informed the race directors at 17h that he was heading back to Les Sables d’Olonne. He hopes to reach the harbour at around noon tomorrow (11th November). A deck panel was damaged in the bad weather. Jean Baptiste estimates that repairs will take two or three days.

Reminder: Vendée Globe rules stipulate that if they suffer damage, the competitors may only return to Les Sables d’Olonne to carry out repairs before heading off again. They must cross the start line by 13h02 on 19th November.

November 10. 2008 at 17:21A cargo vessel, not a fishing boat

Thanks to the AIS tracker on the onboard computer, Cheminées Poujoulat's support team appear to have identified the boat with which Bernard Stamm collided. In fact, Stamm's team report that is is not to be a fishing boat, but an 80-metre long Maltese cargo vessel which is believed to be a freight carrier. According to reports the paint from the ship's hull side matches that left on the Open 60's hull side.

November 10. 2008 at 16:28Monday afternoon, small gains and losses as the winds build

The 1500GMT positions show Marc Guillemot on Safran making a small increase in his lead to 10.1NM with second and third places changed again as Loick Peyron on Gitana 80 swaps once more with Roland Jourdain on Veolia Environnment who is now 12.2 miles behind the leader. Peyron’s tack to the south from the main pack, now following the same line as Safran, has been a small gain, while that slightly southerly path also continues to pay for Mike Golding on Ecover 3 who is now up to ninth from 13th this morning, with Dee Caffari on sistership Aviva in eighth. Caffari is to his north west on the same line as Veolia Environnment, Kito de Pavant’s Groupe Bel.
Sam Davies on Roxy has gained four to lie thirteenth. Alex Thomson on Hugo Boss is out to the north and west of  the middle group, Veolia, Groupe Bel and BT, working for position and is 14th, while a noticeable drop of four places is that of Brian Thompson on Bahrain Team Pindar.

November 10. 2008 at 15:55Today's radio cast

Every day at 15h30, you can hear Pierre-Louis Castelli's radio programme (in French) looking back on the key events of the previous 24 hours. Today, Michel Desjoyeaux's problems, the leader, Marc Guillemot's satisfaction, Sam Davies's joy of being at sea and Jean-Pierre Dick's tiredness. http://www.vendeeglobe.org/fr/mediatheque/radio/

November 10. 2008 at 15:09Penalty for Brian Thompson

As Brian Thompson (Bahrain Team Pindar) still had some of his team on board during the final Vendée Globe start countdown (four minutes before the gun was fired), the International Jury has given him a penalty of four hours.

November 10. 2008 at 14:53Desjoyeaux's support team awaits

Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia)'s support team is in place in Les Sables d’Olonne. "We're all on the spot now trying to get hold of all the engine parts, in case they need to be changed. That is never that easy, but is more complicated as it's a long weekend in France for the Armistice bank holiday of 11th November. Michel has explained the situation to us and we're taking advantage of the wait, while the boat returns to Les Sables d’Olonne to carry out a more detailed diagnosis of the boat's problems. We're trying to understand everything that may have gone wrong by asking Michel various questions to confirm or refute our suspicions."

November 10. 2008 at 14:15Stamm against the clock

Bernard Stamm (Chéminées Poujoulat) talking about his repairs:
"It's a race against the clock, but there are things you can't hurry. For example, we're going to have to rebuild the bowsprit in its entirety and you can't change the time it takes to dry composites, whether you are racing or not. This repair job needs to be done as seriously as everything else we have done on Cheminées Poujoulat up until now. We're going around the world and it's going to have to last.

"The countdown has begun. while the others are all sailing upwind. It's not a big problem, but if I could get away today, rather than tomorrow, it would be better. However, looking at what needs to be done, I shan't be leaving Les Sables until tomorrow afternoon to try to sail the best race possible."