Vendee Globe- Algimouss Spirit of Canada breaks spreaders in knockdown

by Vendee Globe media on 28 Dec 2008
Michel Desjoyeaux's lead is stabilised at just over 50 miles as the fleet deal with a series of depressions in the Southern Ocean. But, Canadian Derek Hatfield on Algimouss Spirit of Canada was laid flat early this morning, breaking the top two spreaders on the port side of his mast. He is thinking of making to Hobart. His rig has been stabilised meantime.

The message was short this morning:

40 knot SW'ly winds, boat knocked down, two top spreaders broken, skipper OK? Derek Hatfield (Algimouss-Spirit of Canada) is sailing at reduced speed (7 knots) towards Tasmania, 1000 miles away. It is understood that this was the third time that Algimouss Spirit of Canada had been knocked down in this storm, and Hatfield had seen winds to 57 knots and huge seas. Winds are due to ease.

Marc Guillemot (Safran) completed his repairs on Auckland Island and is now sailing again with the boat able to show her full potential. He set sail at around 20:30hrs GMT last night just over 150 miles ahead of the trio of Dee Caffari, GBR, (Aviva), Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) and Arnaud Boissières (Akéna Vérandas) , who are practically within sight of each other, but Guillemot has quickly found his stride and has been one of the fastest in the fleet since leaving Port Ross Bay. Guillemot is reported to be very happy with the repair he made, particularly after getting some good sleep in the secluded bay.

Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) in the lead now for thirteen days, is only a few miles from the West Pacific Ice Gate which he should cross this morning. The lead of fifty miles or so over Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) has stabilised, but with his position further north, the leader should be able to sail directly towards the final Pacific Ice Gate, which has been moved 300 miles north because of drifting ice.

In fact this has extended the course by almost 450 miles, so it is only today that we can say that there will be less 10,000 miles left to reach Les Sables d'Olonne?

Down under New Zealand, a series of warm fronts from Australia are disturbing the westerly flow and Boissières,Thompson, Caffari and Guillemot are facing northerly or NE'ly winds. As they move up to pass the New Zealand Gate, they should find a steadier SW'ly flow for a few days. Sam Davies (Roxy) is continuing to close the gap on Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2) stuck in moderate, unstable winds and now less than 400 miles ahead of the British skipper who continues to set good, steady average speeds on the IMOCA Open 60 which has won the race twice in succession.

Seb Josse (BT) has still been making north, at slightly improved speeds 9-10 knots looking for better weather to decide on his fate after being knocked flat.

Frightening period of sailing for Jonny Malbon (Artemis II) - in his daily message: 'I am now the only one of the three in my area who has not been knocked down yet in the hideous conditions that we have. I am anticipating it….. but praying that I can avoid it. As the breeze picked up yesterday, after about 3 hours of ok sailing, I dropped the main again, lashed the boom and carried on under staysail only.

I checked that the headsails still plugged in on the bow were furled as well as possible, with their furling lines tight and locked off, and I removed every line from the cockpit floor and stowed them in bags so they couldn’t get washed away. I removed the stb steering foot chock and MOB lifebelt from the transom and stowed them below. As I was finishing this I looked out of the back of the boat at the most enormous pair of waves, towering about 30 feet over the back of my little boat – they were coming from opposite directions and smashed into one another with such force – breaking high and loud and violently.

With this I went below and closed both hatches tight, filled the aft ballast and looked at my options. After about 1 second I realised that I had zero options other than ride out the next 24 hours and try and get through with minimal damage. I set about lashing anything I could find down below that could move, I stowed all the loose gear that was possible, and set my bean bag and nav station on the leeward side, so if I did get rolled I would have less far to fall. The breeze built, but more importantly so did the sea state.

Every now and again we get on a wave and hit 20-25 knots, totally out of control, before we plummet headlong and at pace into the wave in front. At this point the boat stops and tonnes of water engulf the boat – slowly she manages to shake the water off and get going again, but how many times will she manage? It has been relentless for us back here, and I am sick and tired of living in fear of the next wave, the next pooping or a knockdown. Reading of Derek's plight last night does not help, and I hope he is ok. Rich also had a couple of knockdowns during the night, so am I existing on borrowed time?

This is most certainly the most extreme, most difficult, most frightening period of sailing I have ever undertaken, and I shall be overjoyed when it is over… I am ok, just fed up and worried. I have done all I can to be safe, so must now be patient and hope…'

Vendee Globe ranking - 04:00 HRS GMT. Rankings, Sunday 28 December 2008 (FRA unless stated)

1. Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) at + 10144.6 miles
2. Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) at + 52.9 miles
3. Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux) at + 192.4 miles
4. Armel Le Cléac'h (Brit Air) at 388 miles
5. Vincent Riou (PRB) at + 402.7 miles

Selected International

8. Sam Davies, GBR, (ROXY) at + 1472.6 miles
10. Dee Caffari, GBR, (AVIVA) at + 2133.8 miles
11. Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) at + 2135.5 miles
13. Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) at + 2753 miles
14. Johnny Malbon, GBR, (Artemis) at + 3433.5 miles
15. Rich Wilson, USA, (Great American III) at + 3536.7 miles
16. Derek Hatfield, CAN, (Algimouss Spirit of Canada) at + 3674.7 miles
17. Norbert Sedlacek, AUT, (Nauticsport.Kapsch) + 4497.7 miles

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