Please select your home edition
Edition
C-Tech 2021 America's Cup 728x90 TOP

Vendee Globe - Repair and Jury Rig process underway for Conrad Colman

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com NZ on 12 Feb 2017
Broken boom aboard Foresight Natural Energy the day after she was dismasted in the Vendee Globe Race - February 11, 2017 Conrad Colman / Foresight Energy / Vendée Globe
Dismasted Vendee Globe competitor, Conrad Colman has started the repair and Jury rig process in an attempt to cover the remaining 700nm to the finish in France.

Currently he is 300nm off the coast of Portugal.

The latest social media message from the sailor aboard Foresight Natural Energy reads:

'Busy program: get sails out to prop the boom, work on repairs, wait for it to dry. Install a system to lift the 85kg boom & rig'

His previous message sent 24 hours earlier read: 'Waiting for the sea state to improve to work on repairing the boom. first step for a jury rig'

His latest Facebook message, sent via his shore team set out his plan of attack:

Today's program on board: get all the sails out of the front hatch to prop the boom up. Work on repairing the boom. Wait for the repairs to dry. Put in place the system to lift the boom (85kg of carbon to put up safely). Then if all of these steps have worked properly, attach the boom and install the new rig. Pretty busy day for Conrad, fingers crossed all goes as planned!

Colman dismasted late Friday night around 2200hrs (UTC) after suffering a failure which dropped his entire rig, and it seems to have been cutaway, with sails and a partially broken boom remaining. He was sailing upwind into an Atlantic gale at the time of the incident.


After sorting out the immediate situation, Colman was forced to remain below on Foresight Natural Energy, which is attempting to become the first yacht to complete the Vendee Globe Race for a solo circumnavigation, using only renewable energy resources.

The sea state was such that Colman was forced to remain below decks as the sea conditions were still too dangerous to try and work on the deck. The forecast for the area, some 270 miles NWW of Lisbon, advised that the winds are still more than 30kts and the seas big and confused.

However the latest weather prognosis is for the winds to shift to the SW and drop to 20-25kts, and it would seem that the 32year old New Zealander, who lives in France has settled on a repair plan and will will attempt to emulate the feat of the 65ft Peter Blake skippered Ceramco New Zealand in sailing 3,000nm under Jury rig to finish the first leg of the 1981/82 Whitbread Round the World Race.


From photos transmitted from Foresight Natural Energy, the mainsail boom appears to have a impact carbon fracture, which will need to be repaired or cut and sleeved, before being erected to support a very reduced sail plan.

Raising the boom into place alone will probably be Colman's biggest challenge - as unlike the Ceramco NZ situation 36 years ago will not have the assistance of a 12 strong crew to control the boom as it is raised into a position where it can be usefully used as a spar.

Currently Colman is still in 10th place on the water, but will lose this in the next 24hours. However just finishing the race will be a major achievement as it was for Jean-Pierre Dick in the previous edition of the race, who finished fourth overall after sailing the last 2650nm without a keel.

Selden 2020 - FOOTERC-Tech 2020 Tubes 728x90 BOTTOMMackay Boats 728x90 BOTTOM

Related Articles

Rolex Fastnet Race IRC Three preview
This has produced the overall winner of two of the last six editions IRC Three may consist of smaller, slower and in some cases older boats than those that will garner headlines in the first couple of days of the Rolex Fastnet Race.
Posted today at 4:12 pm
Zhik Nordic Youth Sailing Championship preview
This year's regatta will be the largest of its kind ever hosted in Tallinn Tallinna Yacht Club brings one of the biggest sports events of the summer to Haven Kakumäe - 300 young sailors expected at the Zhik Nordic Youth Sailing Championship, plus just as many supporters on shore!
Posted today at 3:00 pm
18th Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona day 1
Opening victories and nautical splendor This week, Barcelona once again takes center stage in the world of classic sailing as the 18th edition of the Puig Vela Clàssica gets under way. The opening day delivered ideal conditions for a spectacular display on the water.
Posted today at 12:28 pm
Rolex Fastnet Race: IRC Two Preview
With 73 entries in IRC Two, the Rolex Fastnet Race is set to deliver a striking display. Could two new JPK 1050s upset the apple cart in IRC Two? Jean-Pierre Kelbert has a habit of breaking the mould in IRC racing, and his new 34-footer may well be a game changer in this competitive division with 73 entries.
Posted today at 10:36 am
Dragon Edinburgh Cup in Torbay overall
Tight Racing and Tactical Brilliance The final day of the 2025 Edinburgh Cup brought sunshine, shifting breeze, and two exciting races that kept the championship wide open until the very last run.
Posted today at 8:13 am
Seldén Rodkicker 50 - manual rigid vang
Specifically sized for yachts between 50 and 55 feet A Rodkicker rigid vang is designed to enhance sail handling during reefing and allows for greater sail trim control.
Posted today at 8:00 am
WASZP Games 2025: Talent & fun descend on Weymouth
Poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history The 2025 International WASZP Games, set to take place from July 19–25 at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, are poised to be the largest and most competitive in the class's history.
Posted today at 7:23 am
Transpac 2025 Update: Moon River Tonight!
The magic of offshore racing in the 2025 Transpac A vast ocean separates Los Angeles, California, from Honolulu, Hawaii, but the boats racing in this year's Transpac have now crossed the halfway mark. Race leaders are in the tradewinds and making their approach to the Aloha State.
Posted today at 12:26 am
20 Canadians set for Long Beach Grand Slam Event
The Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta will be held July 12-20 20 Canadian sailors will take part in the fourth and next-to-last event of the 2025 Sailing Grand Slam Series, the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta, to be held July 12-20 at one of the two Olympic venues for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Posted on 10 Jul
All smiles among first finishers of the AEGEAN 600
The fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion As the fastest teams crossed the finish line today at Cape Sounion and made their way to the harbour at Olympic Marine, there were exhausted smiles all around.
Posted on 10 Jul