1876. Image copyright Marcel Mochet/AFP.
by Régis Lerat
As the Transat Jacques Vabre competitors looked set to emerge from the worst weather so far a mission to secure BT co-skippers Sébastien Josse and Jean Francois Curzon after their IMOCA Open 60 was badly damaged this morning in big seas and winds which other competitors reported to be in excess of 55 knots at times.
The pair were reported to have set off their EIPRB beacon at around 10:20hrs this morning while 200 miles north of the Azores after the coachroof was badly damaged by the pounding waves. They said that the boat was taking water and required immediate assistance. At one point to a depth of nearly two thirds of hull was filled with water. The two co-skippers are fully equipped with their safety gear awaiting the arrival of assistance.
The co-skippers have remained in regular contact with Race Director Jean Maurel in Paris and the BT shore team as the MRCC moved into action to co-ordinate operations.
Curzon spoke early this morning to the radio session with Paris Race HQ, telling of winds of more than 50 knots and the huge, confused seas, his voice revealing his concerns. A matter of hours later a huge wave is understood to have torn off part of the coach roof.
Immediately, they informed Race HQ and the MRCC set in train the assistance operation. Race direction alerted Safran co-skippers Marc Guillemot and Charles Caudrelier as well as Veolia Environnnement to be aware that they could need to be diverted. A helicopter and an aeroplane were scrambled to fly over the zone, whilst a scientific oceanographic research vessel which was operating close to the area was dispatched to BT.
W Hotels. Image copyright Marcel Mochet/AFP.
Compared with the BT duo's situation, other problems reported from the race course have been thankfully relatively straightforward. And the leaders were expecting to emerge into improving conditions by this evening. Roland Jourdain confirmed to the radio session that he and Jean Luc Nelias will make a pitstop in the Azores to repair their mainsail mast-track which was damaged when they were taking in a reef and the mainsail cars flew off the track.
According to Artemis' press service Sam Davies and Sidney Gavignet are contemplating a stop to make repairs, possibly in the Azores but more likely in 400 miles down the track in Madeira, but that now seems unlikely.
Meantime repairs at sea included Brian Thompson who went to the top of Aviva's mast yesterday during a calmer spell to replace a wind wand. That option will not be open to Mike Golding who, after fixing the autopilot problems on Mike Golding Yacht Racing was dismayed to discover that both of their wind indicators had been ripped from the top of the mast during last night's storm.
At the front of the fleet Guillemot and Caudrelier have a lead of 35 miles over Mike Golding Yacht Racing.
Quotes :
Alex Thomson (GBR), Hugo Boss:
“ All is well on board. We had a bit on an issue with the J3 which unfurled itself in 50 knots of wind but Rossco dealt with it and furled it away. Ross banged his wrist on the first night out but he has been battling on through the pain, he is a real trooper.
“It is incredible on board. You cannot move around anywhere or do anything, you can't go to the toilet. In fact we have not even managed to make a cup of tea since the start and both Ross and I are avid tea drinkers.
“But we are moving up the rankings OK, which is nice, but at the moment survival is the most important thing, but as soon as the wind eases off we will be able to really put the hammer down the more miles we get south.”
Mike Golding (GBR), Mike Golding Yacht Racing:
“It was a rough night really and now we are hoping in the next hour or so to see the back of the squalls which have been coming through up to 65 knots, and just horrendous seas but I am sure that all the boats are struggling in these conditions. It is not an easy time.
“We are both fine. Javier has just gone for some rest. We have both been up all night with just such extreme conditions. We are just trying to push through them and not break anything.
“I think at the moment we are just pleased to be still on the race course, we are having to squeeze up a little to try and find a line through, but I have always been quite happy tactically where are, to the south of this group.
“And I'll be pleased to be the first out of the worst.
“ We are lining up to pass the Azores in 12 hours of so, and we'll see what happens there.”
Michel Desjoyeaux, (FRA), Foncia:
“It is a bit wet here. We had a front pass over then a rough night with the wind increasing and a shift around daybreak and since then it has gone SSW'ly. It is bumpy, everything shaking. It is quite impressive but it passes and that is the way it is. We are getting along between 12 and 14 knots all the time and mostly the wind has been low 30's. The most we've seen is 48 knots. And in a few hours we should see some calmer conditions. The seas will remain for a bit, but the winds will abate steadily.”
Roland Jourdain (FRA) Foncia:
“We tore off the cars at the head of the mainsail when we were taking a reef in. The winds have been between 40 and 45 knots, we took a first reef, then a second and then we had the problem. We realized the problem and immediately dropped the mainsail. We can't sail with more than two reefs, which is fine for the moment. But if we want to be competitive to the end of the race then we need to stop to repair it.
“We will stop in Horta in the Azores to make a repair as quickly as possible. If everything is OK it should be done quickly. We should get into the port relatively easily and the repair is not complicated and it is not a big thing to repair.
“What is costly to us though is changing course, we were very happy with our option.
"Anway we don't want to give up, we want to stay in the race and we will do everything to get to Costa Rica. We have had better times but that is the way it goes.”
Transat Jacques Vabre
No comments:
Post a Comment