Vendee Globe - Sanso reports damage to Acciona 100% EcoPowered

by Vendee Globe on 16 Nov 2012 In the Vendee Globe, the Acciona Sailing Team has been informed by its skipper Javier 'Bubi' Sansó that the boat Acciona 100% EcoPowered has had to modify its sailing route having suffered a bit of damage to the track of the main sail halyard whilst sailing in very harsh sea and wind conditions.

At around 18.00 on Wednesday 14th November the skipper from Mallorca saw his main sail come down after a piece of the mainsail halyard track system failed (the line used to raise and lower sails.)

Faced with the sudden dropping of the mainsail in winds of 30 knots and a rough sea with waves of up to four metres, Sansó was forced to modify his route from 213º to 147º and find a downwind position that would enable him to make a first assessment of the situation.

With a damaged part and the halyard at the top of the mast, Sansó will look for calmer sea conditions that allow him to go up to the top of the mast and recover the part and the halyard and be able to continue sailing under full sail.

The damage is not serious as Javier Sansó was keen to reassure his shore team and the situation is being monitored: 'This afternoon whilst I was sailing without any problem the part that attaches the main sail into the halyard track broke. I can't do anything until the weather improves and í can go up the mast to get the part and the main sail halyard back. Once I am back down it will just take me a few hours until I am back sailing again. The worst thing will be the 48 hours that I am going to lose. But this is a tough and long race and there is still a lot to be done'.

We will keep you updated on the Vendee Globe website