Vendée Globe

November 11. 2008 at 19:17The Life of Brian: Day 2

Brian Thompson from Bahrain Team Pindar: 

"All well on Bahrain Team Pindar, after a long 36 hours in the Biscay storm that saw so much carnage through the fleet.

I seem to have come through unscathed with no damage at all, but it was rough, especially yesterday afternoon just before the front came through, and then again after the front and the big windshift from SW to NW.  The first part of last night was very hard as I had to reach straight into a head sea caused by the 40 knot SW winds that I had before the front. I reined in the boatspeed to protect her from herself and sailed a course to try to keep the waves at an angle to the bows but it was still like jumping off 4m ramps in your car.      

The day before I did 3 accidental tacks, the first in 35 knots of wind, which makes an almighty mess to sort out, as when the wind goes on the wrong side, the sails are aback and all the keel, water ballast and stack is suddenly on the low side. It felt like we were heeled over 80 degrees, and I had to climb up the cockpit to the new runner to wind it on, before easing the main and other runner. Not sure why the tack happened but I just got to the helm a second too late, and once the wind gets on the wrong side, its an unstoppable force and the boat just keeps heeling and heeling till it finds it new horizontal equilibrium, going sideways at 3 knots.  At the time I was right alongside either Brit Air or Delta Dore.We had been running alongside each other for several hours in the dark, just a hundred metres apart..

That probably cost at least an hour to get the boat flat again, then bear away, and get prepared to tack and sailing properly again. It’s something fairly unique to sailing canting keel boats singlehhanded, so there is no need to try it at home. The next two accidental tacks did not take so long to retrieve as they were in daytime, and I had some recent practice.    

I feel really bad  for those who are having to go back especially for Alex who has moved heaven and earth to start the race at all, and  he was going really well before he had the hull damage. Hope he can restart.     

Out here not delighted with my position in the fleet, but very pleased to see how Bahrain Team Pindar handled the storm and got us through what will be some of the roughest weather of the entire trip. She is a great boat and there is a very long way to go in this VG, and lots of racing to come, so better go on deck now and put up some more sail, now that the wind is coming astern.  "

November 11. 2008 at 16:32Beyou looks ahead

«The wind is unstable going from 13 to 21 knots. I'm sailing downwind and am going to take advantage of that to grab something to eat for the first time since the start. I haven't slept much, as I had my mind on the boat making sure nothing got broken. I really took off gliding through the air. Something, maybe an animal hit the daggerboard and the rudder popped up. The boat went flying with the sails over on the wrong side. I recovered from the incident, but it's like the Bronx inside! It's time I got some rest. I need to look after myself… Now things are calming down a bit and the seas are gradually easing. So now we're sailing downwind to the Doldrums, but are still under the influence of the low. Tomorrow when the wind veers, I'll be able to gybe and get into the right place to pass the islands like Madeira. Must go. I've work to do. The boat is hard work, because the wind has come around, but at least I still have my mast ... »

November 11. 2008 at 16:18DCNS in La Coruña tomorrow morning

Marc Thiercelin indicated during today's radio link-up with Race HQ that he was heading for La Coruña in north-west Spain. His press office has confirmed that DCNS is motoring at around three knots and is due to reach the Spanish port tomorrow morning (Wednesday).

November 11. 2008 at 15:33Hugo Boss could be in Les Sables d'Olonne early morning Wednesday

An update from Alex Thomson's team this afternoon says Hugo Boss is making about 9.5 knots towards Les Sables d'Olonne and believe he should arrive back there in the early morning of  Wednesday 12th November.

" On inspection at daylight the crack is located between the aft keelbox and bulkhead. Only a small amount of water is being taken onboard, water is squirting through the crack as the boat flexes and is completely manageable. Alex is currently bailing out every three hours. HUGO BOSS is currently sailing downwind back to Les Sables d’Olonne under main and headsail only.

They are expected to arrive in Les Sables d’Olonne early morning on Wednesday the 12^th November. 

At 1330 GMT HUGO BOSS was 122 miles off  Les Sables d’Olonne, making about 9.5 knots."

November 11. 2008 at 15:32A nasty surprise for Dominique Wavre

«I felt the change in wind direction coming: I started to prepare my change of tack by stacking the sails in the fore hold and had more or less moved everything across to the leeward side. I was just about to fasten everything in place, before carrying out my manoeuvre, when I felt the boat swing around and go over. I went flying in the sail locker and found myself up against the hull with all the sails on top of me…It all happened in a few seconds. I had to struggle to get free of all the sails and rushed outside to complete the change of tack, which had begun without me: the boat was on her side!  Then, it was back to work to get everything below tidied up again… »

November 11. 2008 at 15:22Sam:ENORMOUS waves

Sam Davies sends the following message:“Hello everyone, firstly, I am really sad for Alex, Yannick, Kito, and the other skippers who suffered damage yesterday. Please send them my best wishes....

It was pretty rough out there yesterday - I saw gusts of 55knots of wind, and the waves were ENORMOUS. I had set up my strong wind configuration in plenty of time, and Roxy hung in there under pilot as I braced myself at the chart table! It was full-on!

The front went through early in the evening, with nicely timed wind shift, that meant I was sailing directly into the path of a big ship. It was pretty close, as I could easily see the ship and there was close to zero visibility, so I had to crash tack to avoid it. Luckily, due to the wind shift, the tack put me on a perfect course. However, because of the urgency of the manoeuvre, I had had no time to do ballast or stacking. So, as a consequence, I spent my night stacking to windward, in a bucking bronco. As you can imagine it was pretty much impossible!

So, right now, things are drying out! There is a nice 15 knots of wind and we are just about to round Cap Finisterre, where I should be able to put the gennaker up. I am totally shattered. It has been a big start to this Vendee Globe. I am desperately in need of some sleep and rest, to try to get rid of the cold I left with on Sunday. I also need to have some time to clean up the oil that is sliding around the aft compartment. I reckon I am not the only skipper with these needs."

November 11. 2008 at 15:16Maisonneuve due in Les Sables this evening

Shortly after 15h yesterday (Monday 10th November), while he was sailing 250 miles from Les Sables d’Olonne in very heavy seas, Jean-Baptiste Dejeanty heard a loud snapping sound, as his boat slammed down between two waves. He soon discovered that a small crack had opened up on the deck of Maisonneuve and therefore decided to turn back to Les Sables d’Olonne for repairs. This afternoon, the solo sailor is downwind and having to tack his way back, prolonging his route. he should be in sight of Port Olona late today, but will have to wait patiently for a few hours tonight before entering the harbour, because of the tide. Ashore, everything is ready to deal with the boat. Throughout the afternoon yesterday, Soizic Dubois, Laurent Massot and Ronan Cointo prepared everything to carry out the repairs, which are expected to take between 48 and 72 hours. «Only once a detailed inspection has been carried out in the harbour can we be more precise. Today, we know that a crack can be seen by the coach roof, going down towards the hull and based on what Jean-Baptiste has explained and the estimates from the support team, we are led to believe that the main structure of the boat has not been affected.»

November 11. 2008 at 14:22Norbert Sedlacek cleaning up, Rich Wilson recovering

The only Austrian skipper in the race admitted this morning (Tuesday 11th November) he was very tired : «The past two days haven't been much fun. I'm in the process of cleaning the boat and will then be getting myself a nice meal of Chinese noodles… » As for Rich Wilson, he acknowledged that the first days were very tiring: «The first night, I was very worried, and couldn't sleep. Now, things are better. It's nice to see some blue skies and sail in the moonlight... »

November 11. 2008 at 13:35Extracts from today's special press conference

Following the damage since the start of the race, a press conference was organised in Vendée Globe HQ in Paris this morning at 11h, in the company of Philippe de Villiers, President of the SEM Vendée, Denis Horeau, Race Director and Alain Gautier, the Vendée Globe safety consultant. Extracts :

Philippe de Villiers, President of the Vendée Council: "We knew that the start of this year's Vendée Globe was going to be difficult.  What we have just experienced is a classic November storm. I noticed that there have been no requests for assistance and that all of the sailors have coped well with the situation. There have been two official retirals (Kito de Pavant / Groupe Bel and Marc Thiercelin / DCNS).  We must not forget that we are talking here about a major sporting event and that storms are part of the competition and the race goes on...."

Alain Gautier: "The Vendée Globe is living up to all its promises.  Sport, competition and adventure are all there.  We must not forget that sailing is a mechanical sport and that what has just happened, however tough it may be for some, is common in this type of race. This situation reminds me a little of the 1992 Vendée Globe, when after the fine weather at the start, a huge low-pressure area moved in, forcing many back to Les Sables.  Apart from the two retirals,  for the moment most of the boats are due to set sail again after their repairs in Les Sables.  We can add that in 1992 on the final podium of the Vendée Globe there were two boats that had returned to Les Sables shortly after the start."

 

November 11. 2008 at 10:45Bernard Stamm forced to remove his mast

Following the collision two days ago with a cargo vessel, repairs on Bernard Stamm's Cheminées Poujoulat are set to continue. After identifying the cargo ship involved in the collision, marks were noticed on the rig, where it brushed against the stern of the vessel. This afternoon at around 13h, the boat will have her mast removed in order to deal with these scrapes and give the mast a thorough inspection. This work requires the sails and rigging to be removed, which given the extent of the work, means that the Swiss sailor will not be setting sail again before Wednesday evening. Meanwhile, Thierry Dubois and his team continue their work in replacing the bowsprit. These jobs are therefore going on at the same time, making it difficult to estimate a precise start time for Cheminées Poujoulat.