Page 26. MAINE COASTAL NEWS January 2009
Yacht Racing News
Update Vendee Globe & Carnage in the South Pacific
Continued from Page 24.
experiencing light breezes. Brian Thompson reports that Yann Elies is out of the operating repairs.
(BAHRAIN TEAM PINDAR) is in these room where a pin was placed in his femur. He In seventeenth place is Raphaël Dinelli
However there is probably internal bleeding lighter winds and using them to make addi- is awake and feeling fine. (FONDATION OCÉAN VITAL), who during
around the break and there may be some loss tional repairs to his ballast tank structures. Golding (ECOVER 3) is making his way the night suffered a knockdown in 60 knots
of circulation above the knee. He is in a lot of Those bringing up the back of the fleet will be to Freemantle and is just 190 miles away. of wind. He has suffered some damage, but
pain and has been unable to get to his medical hit with a two low pressure system, packing American Rich Wilson (GREAT AMERI- exactly what is not known yet.
kit for medications. winds over 50 knots. CAN III) reported, “There’s another front
The frigate HMAS ARUNTA, has been Back in 15
th
place American Rich Wilson coming through about now, we’ve got 30-35 Day 47, 26 December
making good time due to favourable condi- (GREAT AMERICAN III) reported, “We’ve knots of wind and we’re surging to 18.5 Sebastien Josse (BT) has suffered a
tions. Unfortunately the vessel does not got a lot of wind here with another low knots. I think we’ll be rolling up the staysail knockdown, with mast in the water, which
carry a helicopter. Also an attempt was made coming along for the second half of the fleet quite soon. I think we’re going to slow down has caused significant damage. Josse dis-
to get two experienced yacht skippers on – we’ve got 40-42 knots of wind and big, big a little bit, by choice, just trying not to push covered three cracks in the coach roof and is
board, but that did not happen, so the only seas. The boat has been surfing down the things too much. We had a pilot error earlier leaking large amounts of water into the cabin,
people on board are military. A detailed plan waves and we’ve got up to 23 knots, which in the afternoon and we don’t want to stress but is manageable. He also noted damage to
was developed for the Australian Navy for is fast for us, and down to just three reefs on it too much till we get confidence back in that. the bulkhead that joins the roof to the deck
the evacuation of Eliès. They will use a large the mainsail with no jib at the moment. It’s I’ve been trying to find the freeze-dried tur- around the hatch. None of this damage is
inflatable for the evacuation of the injured pretty hair-raising — every once in a while key and I’ve certainly been making a larger thought to be a danger to skipper or boat.
skipper. Plans are also moving forward for the boat gets sideways. With gusts up to 45 number of phone calls to friends, but it turns Another problem is that when the mast was
recovering GENERALI, whose position will to 47, so it’s not quite what we had in those out on Christmas Day I’ll be just about ex- in the water the weather instruments at the
be followed by race headquarters. other two storms when we had gusts up to actly on the opposite side of the planet from top were lost. He is now heading north under
As the day wore on Michel Desjoyeaux the 60s, but it’s still pretty strong winds. I’m Boston, in latitude and longitude, about as bare pole away from the fierce weather con-
(FONCIA) lead expanded to 45.2 miles over just trying to get a little northing in because far away as I could possibly get, and I don’t ditions to determine of there were any other
Roland Jourdain (VEOLIA there’s another one coming behind and it like being this far away from family and damage, especially to the rudders.
ENVIRONNEMENT). During the night they might be a prudent idea to be a little further friends.” Michel Desjoyeaux (FONCIA) has seen
both passed longitude 147 degree east, mean- north to try to get away from the centre of As the day wore on the four leading his lead diminish to 33 miles over Roland
ing they passed from the Indian to the Pacific these things. Certainly the accident that Yann boats crossed the International Date Line. Jourdain, who is two knots quicker and is
Ocean. Desjoyeaux pace has continued and had — boy, oh boy does that make you think. The leader is still Michel Desjoyeaux gaining. Later this day, Desjoyeaux was in
he has now doubled his lead over second Every handhold, every step you take, whether (FONCIA), which is 62.2 miles ahead of the about 45 knots of wind, gusting to 60 knots,
place. In third is Seb Josse (BT) has lost some on deck or even down below. I’m sure every- second place boat, Roland Jourdain (VEOLIA with heavy seas and began increasing his
to Desjoyeaux and has remained even with body in the fleet is being extra vigilant.” ENVIRONNEMENT). lead again.
Jourdain. After 42 days of racing and 12 retirees, Jean-Pierre Dick (PAPREC-VIRBAC 2) The conditions were horrendous, rain,
Jean Le Cam has gone south and found the first boat has crossed the theoretical is gain speed and this must mean that he has hail, snow squalls, heavy winds and a furious
better conditions as he tries to gain on the halfway point. Desjoyeaux has passed the confidence in the repairs made to his rudder. sea.
four leaders. southern island of New Zealand and is still Guillemot also must be feeling better about Jean Le Cam (VM MATÉRIAUX) was
sailing at around 17 knots. The other three his boat, SAFRAN, which is now gaining not having a pleasant time describing the
Day 41, 20 December just behind, Jourdain (VEOLIA ENVIRON- back miles lost to Sam Davies, (ROXY). conditions as ‘infernal.’
The Australian Naval frigate HMAS MENT), Josse (BT) and Le Cam (VM Rich Wilson (GREAT AMERICAN III)
ARUNTA successfully evacuated Yann MATÉRIAUX), are not having an easy time Day 45, 24 December was thrown from his bunk and received a cut
Elies. They brought a large inflatable along- keeping up. All four are staying south hop- The contrary breezes affected the lead- to his eye. His spirits have been kept high by
side GENERALI and two people jumped on ing for better sailing conditions. ers by slowing them down, however they the messages received from his supporters.
board, one a doctor, as the frigate stayed to The frigate HMAS ARUNTA, which remain in the same positions. It is Desjoyeaux
windward providing a lee for the rescue. The rescued Yann Elies, has arrived in Fremantle. (FONCIA) has been in the lead for nine days Day 48, 27 December
CO said that the rescue took about 45 min- Elies was met by members of his team and was now. The leaders are now hoping for the Still brutal conditions buffet the racers,
utes, and the hardest part was finding his then taken to the Royal Perth Hospital. southwesterly winds, which will make sailing but leader Michel Desjoyeaux (FONCIA) has
passport, which he had hidden very well, but easier than sailing into the northerly breezes. been adding more miles to his lead. During
we got it. The rescue was confirmed by Marc Day 43, 22 December At the back of the fleet the racers are in the morning he should round the West Pa-
Guillemot (SAFRAN) who had been stand- The two leaders headed further south, survival mode with winds up over 50 knots. cific Ice Gate.
ing by Elies for two days. Also standing by but the following boats has made some gains Steve White (TOE IN THE WATER) has This low will be with the leaders for the
was Sam Davies (ROXY). Both will be given on them. The third and fourth place boats, developed a broken gooseneck pin. He stated next few days.
redress for their time spent assisting Elies. Sebéstian Josse (BT) and Jean Le Cam (VM that when the winds lessen he will try to make Seb Josse is still trying to get far enough
Once the rescue was completed they both MATÉRIAUX) have gybed onto a more repairs. north so that weather and sea conditions
continued in the race. Elies racer was left northerly line. Brian Thompson (BAHRAIN TEAM allow him to assess the damage and make
adrift and will be picked up later by a crew However, during the night leader PINDAR) also had to make repairs. He climbed repairs. When going over ten knots the au-
from Team Generali and taken back to South- Desjoyeaux and Jourdain was slowed by a 24 feet or so up his mast to repair the lazy- topilots can not handle the conditions. If the
ern Australia. high pressure system. This has allowed the jacks. rudders will go to starboard he will remain in
HMAS ARUNTA also may have a chasing pack to make gains. The biggest Canadian Derek Hatfield, (ALGIMOUSS the race, but if they do not, he will be forced
Christmas present for another racer, Golding gains went to the fifth and sixth place boats, SPIRIT OF CANADA) has been knocked to retire.
(ECOVER 2), which is in need for some fuel. Armel Le Cléac’h and Vincent Riou. The third down three times in recent days in winds up Early in the morning Marc Guillemot
ECVOER 2 is 420 miles south of Cape Leeuwin. and fourth place boats, Sébastien Josse (BT) to 47 knots. This has broken battens in his (SAFRAN) came to anchor in Sandy Bay,
The torrid pace continues for the leader, and Jean Le Cam (VM MATERIALS), also mainsail. He has been making gains and is Auckland Island, which is 250 miles south of
but it is those in the back that will be under picked up some distance. just 100 miles behind American Rich Wilson. New Zealand’s South Island. The repair will
a new cold front tomorrow. Winds are ex- Sam Davies is moving along at 7-10 be harder than thought, he will have to make
pected to blow upwards of 60 knots, with knots, however Marc Guillemot’s speed has Day 46, 25 December repair to both sides of the track and this will
gusts even higher. slowed. He has been making repairs to The leader Michel Desjoyeaux (FONCIA) take several hours to complete. He set sail
SAFRAN’s main track. He had been up the has slowed due to confused seas and is a late this evening and is just 150 miles ahead
Day 42, 21 December mast twice, but was unable to make the result of staying further south than Jourdain, of Dee Caffari (AVIVA), Brian Thompson
Only 18 competitors remain in the race. repairs. He does not think he can make the who is sailing ten knots faster, and just 27 (BAHRAIN TEAM PINDAR) and Arnaud
Michel Desjoyeaux (FONCIA) leads the repairs without anchoring south of New miles back. Desjoyeaux is now heading north- Boissières (AKÉNA VÉRANDAS).
charge of those going flat-out into the Pacific Zealand. As the day wore on he was able to east so as to pass the next ice gate and has Canadian Derek Hatfield (ALGIMOUSS
with a lead of 65 miles over Roland Jourdain pick up the pace as the next low pressure slowed to just 6.5 knots. During the night he SPIRIT OF CANADA) suffered a knock-
(VEOLIA ENVIRONMENT). system headed for him. passed the ice gate going east than north, down that caused damage to the top two
Jean Le Cam (VM MATÉRIAUX) sailed which has allowed him to add distance to his spreaders on the port side of his mast. This
over 404 miles in 24 hours and holds onto Day 44, 23 December lead over Jourdain. was his third knockdown in this storm and
fourth place. The front runner FONCIA has slowed In three days, Vincent Riou has gained the winds should decrease shortly. He has
After going back to racing Sam Davies along with second place racer, VEOLIA EN- 170 miles on the leader and is in fifth place. stabilized the rig and is thinking of heading
(ROXY) has sailed past Marc Guillemot VIRONMENT by a high pressure system. Brian Thompson (BAHRAIN TEAM to Hobart, Tasmania to make repairs.
(SAFRAN) and is in eighth place. Third place Sébastien Josse (BT) is sailing at PINDAR) completed the repairs to some
19.4 knots and gain 50 miles on the leader serious delamination in the forepeak. He no Day 49, 28 December
Day 42, 21 December over night. sooner had his tools put away when he Desjoyeaux lead is now over 85 miles
Michel Desjoyeaux (FONCIA) still leads, Another huge gain on the leader was developed a problem with his halyards and due to a better wind angle and a better sea
now by 80 miles. Second is still Roland Armel Le Cléac’h (BRIT AIR) who sailed 430 lazy-jack. Thus he has been sailing with no state. Roland Jourdain (VEOLIA
Jourdain (VEOLIA ENVIRONNEMENT), miles in the last 24 hours and reduced the mainsail for 30 hours. It took him two tries to ENVIRONNMENT) has been the only one to
while Seb Josse (BT) is third. Winds are distance to the leader by 118 miles. make repairs to the halyard. While up the stay with the leader, with the others losing 75
favouring the leaders and sport a boat speed The leaders will soon be overtaken by a mast he spotted Dee Caffari’s (AVIVA), who miles or more.
of over 16 knots. Those further back will low coming down from Auckland. This low had just taken over tenth position from him. Derek Hatfield (ALGIMOUSS SPIRIT
experience a low pressure zone and a more will pack winds of 35 knots, with stronger Marc Guillemot (SAFRAN) has problem OF CANADA) is making his way to Australia
severe low that will strike the second half of gusts. with his mast track and will be heading to or Tasmania. He is devastated by the events.
the fleet. Those in between the two fleets are News from the Royal Perth Hospital Auckland Island, 250 miles away, to make In March 2004 his Open 40 (SPIRIT OF
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