Tuesday 6 January 2009

Vendée Globe 2008-9: Two round the Horn; Le Cam in Distress


Michel Desjoyeaux waves as Foncia rounds Cape Horn in the lead. Image copyright Jean-Marie Liot/DPPI/Vendée Globe.

by Véronique Teurlay and SailRaceWin

Leaders Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) and Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) have rounded Cape Horn and are now back in the Atlantic Ocean.


Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) rounds Cape Horn. Image copyright Jean-Marie Liot/DPPI/Vendée Globe.

Meanwhile, Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux), who had been in third place in the Vendée Globe, notified his shore crew of a problem at 56° 17’S 73° 46’W, 200 miles west of Cape Horn. The distress beacon was activated shortly afterwards, and assistance was sent from land.

Competitors Vincent Riou (PRB) and Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) were diverted towards the position of VM Matériaux. The conditions in the area of VM Matériaux at the time of the incident were southwesterly winds of 25 knots with gusts.

An earlier retiree, Seb Josse (BT), arrived in the Viaduct Basin in Auckland, New Zealand, at 2345GMT on 5th January.

Vendée Globe

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