Vendée Globe: Storm Forces Stamm to sail to New Zealand

The Swiss sailor was forced north to Sandy Bay after arriving in winds gusting up to 40 knots, and though the wind dropped his repairs have been slowed by continuous rain. As well as sea lions and orca he has also had the company of Professor Khromov since Sunday.

“On December 23, a Russian scientific vessel, "Professor Khromov" came to anchor in the same bay as Bernard Stamm,” Stamm’s team said yesterday. “Shortly after, the anchor of Cheminées Poujoulat couldn’t hold anymore, and forced the skipper to moor to his boat to his neighbour (the Professor Khromov) to save his IMOCA (Cheminées Poujoulat).

“The current situation is far from simple for the skipper whose repairs are going to be longer time than expected because of the incessant rain. In addition to the constant moisture, a storm will arrive on December 24th. When it’ll touch the archipelago, the boat won’t be protected anymore and will risk to be drifted to the coast. The Swiss decided to sail to the south of New Zealand to find a safer shelter and to continue his repairs.

“The possibility of getting fuel from the Russian ship was discarded by the skipper, determined to continue his Vendée Globe race. It was a  difficult choice but guided by the sense of responsibility. Bernard Stamm is determined to continue the race, just like any good sailor would do.

“Bernard Stamm keeps on reporting his repairs to the race directors and a statement will be made to the jury in order to track every stage of his work on the boat.”

Fleet News

Jean Le Cam (SynerCiel) is set to move into fifth place overnight. He is averaging 17.2 knots in the last hour on a direct course and is just 180 miles behind Stamm – less than half a day’s sailing at current speeds.

He is also continuing to fly away from the three in behind him. Mike Golding (Gamesa), Dominique Wavre (Mirabaud) and Javier Sansó (Acciona 100% EcoPowered), have some wind now, but it is not certain they are out of the horrible transition bubble of high pressure south of Tasmania. At one point overnight Golding, now 454 miles behind Le Cam, said he was headed by the wind. He was making 15.3 knots in the last hour, but the routing is still unclear. Wavre has faired marginally better, losing only 107 miles to Le Cam in the last 24 hours but Sansó twisting south, was still making only 11.8 knots and is suddenly 741 miles behind Le Cam.

For many of the skippers, at the front and the back, Christmas celebrations appear to be on hold. They will open presents hidden by their shore crews when they have time. That is true of Stamm and Golding, but even Armel Le Cléac’h (Banque Populaire), flying in second said he would be waiting for a more convenient time.

Francois Gabart (MACIF) is just 11.4 miles ahead of Armel Le Cléac’h (Banque Populaire) at the head of the fleet and is only 15 miles south of his rival, as they reach northeast in 25-27 westerlies to the Pacific West gate 250 miles away.
Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac-Paprec 3) lost some ground in third and is 515 miles behind, but was averaging the same speed as Gabart – 18.2 knots in the last hour – as he heads due west to the Pacific West gate.

In fourth, Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss), was slightly slower at 15.5 knots as he heads northeast to the New Zealand gate around 150 miles ahead (depending on where he crosses). He is 977.8 miles behind the leaders.

A big low pressure system is about to sweep over the four boats at the back of the fleet, which should see further contraction to Sansó in front of them. Arnaud Boissières (Akena Verandas), approaching the East Australia gate, has been the fifth fastest over the last 24 hours, covering 347.1 miles. He is 433 miles behind Sansó. Like Le Cam he has been sailing two miles for every one for those between them, over the last 36 hours.

Also plaudits to the resilient, resourceful and ever-cheerful backmarker Alessandro Di Benedetto (Team Plastique), who made another 341.7 miles in the last 24 hours – the sixth fastest in the fleet, averaging 17.2 knots - and continues to close back on those ahead of him.

Merry Christmas to all.

Watch Vendée Globe TV live at 1200hrs (UTC) (1300hrs, GMT) see today’s here.

PHOTO Jean-Marie Liot / DPPI