Vendée Globe

January 07. 2009 at 18:30Jean and Vincent round the Horn

Vincent Riou and Jean Le Cam on board PRB have just rounded the Horn in thirty knots of wind. They are now 70 miles from the rendezvous with Isabelle Autissier at the entrance to the Beagle Channel.
 

January 07. 2009 at 17:40DIY day on Bahrain Team Pindar

"On board BTP it is a ‘bricolage’ day, which is French for  'DIY', as the weather is quite mild. It’s the last quiet day till the Horn and the first since the south of Australia. Yesterday the pilot ram tripped out in a squall, so I was in the process of checking the steering system and changing over rams when I heard some noises in the port rudder area. On a good look around I found a small crack in the transom, so I am now doing a mini version of the big repairs to the fwd longitudinals, and cutting floorboards, carbon plate, getting bolts, sikaflex and epoxy ready to secure the area of the transom. The damage was probably caused by the loads on the rudders in the wipe out from the pilot before it tripped out, probably more than a crew would ever impose. A crew would have also have eased the mainsheet sooner. I was asleep below and felt the boat heel over and went up in my thermals to ease the mainsheet and take the helm before the boat went head to wind, so I was a few seconds late and totally soaked as well. It’s a shame to have damage, and the boat has survived many other wipe outs before. Even after the repair, it will be another area of concern till the finish. It’s a typical problem with a new boat, they normally have little areas that need reinforcement. Boats seem to go through a cycle where they get better and better as the little problems are discovered and rectified, before old age creeps in and then they start breaking again. Some people call it the bathtub principle, a steep slope of improvement, then a flat line where everything works, and then another steep curve of regression. Its just that out here on the Vendee I am doing the new boat reinforcements on the go! Another job is to work on the pilot rams, as the new one I put in yesterday does not work, and seems to have upset one of the pilot brains, so will have to troubleshoot that. The ram on the opposite side is working so ok for now, but would like to have original set up working as that has the more advanced pilot brain.  More sail repairs to do, and I would like to go up the mast to check the taping on the lower shrouds from some earlier chafe. Otherwise will do this in any calmer conditions after Cape Horn."
Brian Thompson (Bahrain Team Pindar) in his daily message
 

January 07. 2009 at 13:47Unaï sets sail again

Unaï Basurko (PAKEA BIZKAIA), who was forced to retire from the race on 7th December following rudder damage, made his way back up the Atlantic and had a short stopover in Cascais in Portugal. He set sail again this morning and is now heading for La Coruña in Galicia, NW Spain, which he is due to reach on Friday or Saturday, before taking his boat home to Bilbao.
 

January 07. 2009 at 12:10Cautious and vigilant

"Seeing the reports from race headquarters last night and getting calls updating me sent shivers down my spine because it was so scary. It was a reminder that this race is far from over and Cape Horn is notorious for a reason. It was very sad but we saw fantastic seamanship by Vincent and Armel and some great news in the end. Awesome. You try not to think about these things happening but everything that has happened could have happened to any of us at any time. We are on the same types of boats, in the same area doing the same thing. Having said that, you could get run over by a bus any time but it doesn’t stop you crossing the road. You just have to be vigilant."

"I have a light patch on the way to the next ice gate and of course the delay means I am taking longer to get to Cape Horn. On the weather file today it looks like I will arrive at Cape Horn in horrendous conditions. I was trying to get round before they arrived but it looks like I am going to get another kicking from the Southern Ocean before I leave. My sails are not looking pretty. It was a big shock when Jonny Malbon retired and it did make me look at the mainsail differently. I haven’t exhausted all the options for repair yet so will carry on until that happens. As a result I‘m probably sailing a couple of gears lower as the priority is to get home.”

Dee Caffari (Aviva) in her daily message
 

January 07. 2009 at 10:18A message from Anne Le Cam

The Vendée Globe news team received this message yesterday evening from Jean Le Cam's wife about her traumatic day:

«Last night, the phone rang. Sailor's wives or husbands always fear that moment. It could be bad or very bad news. The ringing wakes you up and you are suddenly very alert and ready for the worst. On the other end there was Michel Ollivier, Jean's right hand man, who was finding it particularly difficult to make this call. He told me what he knew, what Jean had said before he capsized. We hung up and the wait began. It was really odd, because I'd talked to Jean at midnight and he was doing well and looking forward to the Horn. 1h20 later he triggered his beacon.
In the morning there was the usual routine... Facing the icy roads, I took the girls to school and went to work...While thinking all the time of Jean. Waiting and hoping. The phone kept ringing all day long and the e-mails poured in. That's why I'm writing to you now. Throughout the day we received messages of support and messages from well wishers. I don't have the energy to reply to you all, but I sincerely thank you for your warmth and kindness. Thanks too to Vincent and Armel as well as to the organisers and to Chile..."
 

January 07. 2009 at 08:15PRB has gybed

Apparently, Vincent Riou and Jean Le Cam are no longer heading for the Beagle Channel: PRB has gybed to head towards the Horn in a 20-knot SW'ly wind. This would appear to suggest that they could be heading for a haven to drop off Jean and carry out repairs. We will bring you more information later...
 

January 07. 2009 at 06:55Video of the upturned VM Matériaux

You can view the only pictures available of the upturned VM Matériaux, which were sent back by Vincent Riou yesterday afternoon by clicking here.
 

January 07. 2009 at 05:00Rich remembers

"I'm thinking of Jean Le Cam, who capsized near Cape Horn. 18 years ago, we capsized in our 60-foot trimaran, Great American very near the same position. I have heard that he has shown signs of life: that is great news! I'm really thinking of him."

Rich Wilson (Great American III) by e-mail yesterday evening 
 

January 06. 2009 at 20:51Special radio session with Vincent and Armel

At 20h10 (UTC) you will be able to hear us talking (in French) to Vincent Riou and then at 20h20 (UTC) to Armel Le Cléac'h.  We will bring you a summary of what they say later this evening

January 06. 2009 at 15:02Riou approaching, extra means being put in place

Vincent Riou will be reaching VM Matériaux at around 14h30 GMT, and Armel Le Cléac’h should arrive thirty minutes or so later. The two sailors will then be focussing on one goal: getting in contact with Jean Le Cam to get a reaction from him. The hope is to obtain some sign of life, as it would appear that Jean did not hear the foghorn of the oil tanker, which has been positioned alongside the upturned Lombard designed VM Matériaux since this morning.

The French authorities are in contact with the Chilean authorities

The MRCC have asked the tanker to remain on the spot, which it will now be doing. In addition, two extra boats have become involved in the rescue operation: a fishing boat located 120 miles from VM Matériaux is diverting to the area, and a Chilean naval tug has also been dispatched. It should be in the area in 14 hours time.
Philippe Etienne, the Cabinet Secretary to the French Foreign Secretary, with whom the organisers are in contact, is awaiting the imminent arrival of the report from the plane pilot, who flew over VM Matériaux this afternoon.