Desjoyeaux doubles Vendee lead over nearest rival

by Vendee Globe media on 20 Dec 2008
Vendee Globe news. Overnight both Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) and Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) passed the symbolic 147 degree E line between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. Desjoyeaux has nearly doubled his margin over Jourdain since yesterday afternoon. Seb Josse (BT) and Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux) will pass into the Pacific in the coming hours.

Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) found the Indian Ocean amenable, will the Vendée Globe leading skipper find the Pacific Ocean an easy promenade, or will his adversaries manage to close the gap again? As he lead across into the ocean which he remarked recently that he has always found more conducive to higher speeds, he has nearly doubled his lead since yesterday afternoon and now has just over 80 miles ahead of Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement), while Seb Josse (BT) in third has lost a little against the pace of Mich Desj but has stayed very even with Jourdain.

Ever the maverick, happy to follow his own path, Jean Le Cam spent some miles investigating the potential for returns in the south, and presently he is the quickest of the gang of four. He could well be narrowing the 233 mile gap with the leader in the coming hours.

Since he grabbed the lead, the skipper of Foncia has less and less to say and no longer informs us of his feelings. He is setting a pace that Roland Jourdain may not be able or willing to keep up for very long. His pursuit of a second Vendée Globe victory leaves less and less room for sharing and comradeship now.

Some relationships break up over time, some endure. After nearly six weeks at sea and close to half of the course completed, some of the matched duos and partnerships who have raced closely for weeks are now starting to feel the strain. Jourdain and Le Cam on the near identical 2004 Lombard designs have now nearly 110 miles between them, but the Vincent Riou (PRB) and Armel Le Cléac’h pairing stays solid at around 40 miles apart.

Dee Caffari (Aviva) is steadily distancing herself from Arnaud Boissières and is now nearly 53 miles ahead, while Steve White (Toe in the Water) has sorted out his autopilot problems which plagued him the last 36 hours and he is now making good progress.

The span front to the back of the fleet is now 3700 miles, or some two weeks sailing time.

0500 HRS GMT. Rankings, (FRA, unless stated)
1. Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) at + 12363.6 miles
2. Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) at 80.8 miles
3. Seb Josse (BT) at + 196.4 miles
4. Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux) at + 233.4 miles
5. Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) + 398.4 miles

Selected International
10. Sam Davies, GBR, (ROXY) at + 1183.7 miles
11. Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) at + 1269.6 miles
12. Dee Caffari, GBR, (AVIVA) at + 1770.2 miles
14. Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) at + 2367.5 miles
15. Johnny Malbon, GBR, (Artemis) at + 2681.1 miles
16. Rich Wilson, USA, (Great American III) at + 2770.3 miles
17. Derek Hatfield, CAN, (Algimouss Spirit of Canada) at + 3074 miles
19. Norbert Sedlacek, AUT, (Nauticsport.Kapsch) + 3728.4 miles

RIB Alongside and personnel aboard Generali. Evacuation of skipper Yann Eliès.

At around 0940h GMT this morning the RAN RIB arrived alongside Generali. Two personnel were despatched on board immediately to assess Yann Elies condition. There are three another people on board the RIB. The Arunta is sitting about 200 metres upwind of Generali and holding station.

The plan, which has been put in place in cooperation with the Generali Sailing Team managers who know the layout and handling of the Open 60, with Vendée Globe race direction, with the MRCC and Royal Australian Navy, is to launch a large RIB and to go on board Generali with a stretcher and spinal splint.

It has been recommended that the keel is canted to reduce the freeboard to make to easier to lower Yann into the RIB.

Once on board the Frigate he will be assessed by the civilian doctor on board. There are full facilites should it be decided that an immediate surgical procedure is required.

Eliès will be taken to Perth military hospital. Generali, the Open 60, will be left by the crew and the Vendée Globe race directors will continue to monitor her position.

The mainsail with 3 reefs will be left up but they will furl the staysail.

Doors will be shut and the helm tied off to allow the boat to drift.

Elies condition has remained stable. He has slept for about four hours last night after taking his painkillers and was woken around 0500hrs GMT by Marc Guillemot on VHF. Sam Davies' ETA is likely to be after the operation has commenced.

A crew Jean-Baptiste Epron and Philippe Laot, from Team Generali, have left for Australia to go aboard a motor launch which will take them out to the area, and they will sail her back to Southern Australia.

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