Vendee Globe News (More boats turn Back)

This has certainly been a troublesome beginning to the Vendee Globe. Several boats have been forced to return because of damage caused by extreme conditions. Poor Alex Thomson whose boat Hugo Boss had already suffered damage prior to the start of the race is on his way back in after he discovered a crack is between the aft keel box and bulkhead. The crack does not appear to be related to the previous accident and only a small amount of water is being taken on.

Yannick Bestaven has been forced to retire from the race after his boat was dismasted on Monday evening. ‘I was letting out a reef at the foot of the mast after ploughing through two huge waves, which had swept over the deck. The boat suddenly crashed down onto the third one and the impact was violent leading to the mast to come out of its step and fall down in 3 pieces.’

Jean Baptiste was also caught by a massive wave, which lifted him, then dropped him between two other waves, the impact from which has cracked his keel forcing him to turn back. Meanwhile, on a brighter note, Bernard Stamm, who collided with a Maltese cargo vessel has had his boat fully repaired and is looking fit to set out again on Wednesday afternoon.

VENDEE GLOBE ENTRANTS
Dee Caffari (Aviva) visit site
Sébastien Josse (BT) visit site
Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) visit site (EXTENSIVE DAMAGE OUT OF RACE)
Mike Golding (Ecover 3) visit site
Derek Hatfield (Algimouss-Spirit of Canada) visit site
Loïck Peyron (Gitana Eighty)
Marc Guillemot (Safran)
Yann Eliès (Generali) visit site
Jean Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2) visit site
Jérémie Beyou (Deta Dore) visit site
Raphaël Dinelli (Fondation Ocean Vital) visit site
Marc Thiercelin (DCNS) (OUT OF RACE)
Vincent Riou (PRB)
Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux) visit site
Jonny Malbon (Artemis) visit site
Brian Thompson (Bahrain Team Pindar) visit site
Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) visit site
Jean Baptiste Dejeanty (Maisonneuve)
Dominique Wavre (Temenos II)
Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat) visit site
Steve White (Toe in the water) visit site
Unai Basurko (Pakea Bizkaia) visit site
Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas)
Norbert Sedlacek (Nauticsport-Kapsch)
Rich Wilson (Great American III) visit site
Samantha Davies (Roxy) visit site
Yannick Bestaven (Aquarelle.com) (OUT OF RACE)
Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) visit site
Kito de Pavant (Groupe Bel) visit site (DISMASTED OUT OF RACE)
Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) visit site
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