Tagesvideo27.12.
28 December 2008
Day 50: Effects of Boxing Day capsize sink in.
In brief:
- Onboard BT, Sébastien Josse, is sailing in 30-35 knots and rough seas still unable to fully assess the serious damage to his rudder system.
- The effects of the Boxing Day capsize are only beginning to sink in for Sébastien, and the reality that both he and BT are extremely lucky to have survived at all.
- There are now only two options open to Seb, who as one of the pre-race favourites has raced a brilliant Vendée Globe so far and extraordinarily is actually still in 6th place - to patch-up BT and carry on, albeit in a compromised fashion, or pull-out of the race. Another 12-24 hours will reveal which of the options he has to take.
In detail:
Having survived the almost catastrophic capsize on Boxing Day, Sébastien Josse on board BT is still experiencing 30-35 knots of breeze and a rough sea state so reindexs unable to fully examine the extent of the serious damage to the rudder system. However, what is clear is that one of the rudders is seriously misaligned, yet there is no play in the steering system and therefore it is a bonded joint of some kind that has been broken. Over the past 48 hours Seb has managed to make his way slowly in a northerly direction covering nearly 500 miles in his attempt to reach flatter waters. Over this time the full experience of the knockdown in 60 knots of wind and towering breaking seas has begun to sink in.
As Seb reported yesterday: "For a few minutes I didn't' really know what had happened - if the keel had gone or if it was a wave." As the boat struggled on its side for over a minute that must have felt like an eternity, Seb was uncertain if she would right herself or go completely upside down. His own estimation was that he was held down at least 120 degrees as became self evident as he was effectively standing on the interior roof. The sheer weight of the water crashing on to the boat caused untold damage and there is little doubt that in those heinous conditions Seb was incredibly lucky that the boat righted herself relatively quickly with the mast and keel in place and the index structure of the boat sound, albeit with a severely damaged coachroof. As only another skipper can appreciate the real seriousness of the situation, Brian Thompson skipper of Bahrain Team Pindar commented: "I've read about Seb Josse's knockdown, that sounds horrendous. The force of the water to do that much damage to his coachroof meant that the boat would have been picked up, turned sideways and then plunged into the water, not just a rollover. I know how impeccably that boat was built so there was no weakness in the structure, just the overwhelming might of nature."
It is a cruel and unlucky blow for Sébastien who has so far sailed a wise and impeccable race. BT led the fleet seven times and has been with the frontrunners in the Vendée Globe since the start from Les Sables d'Olonne on the 9th November. He has raced aggressively when needed and with prudence in the hostile Southern Ocean, always putting the preservation of BT ahead of just being in the lead. Seb who was fully aware of the strength of the storm, had kept a more northerly course to that of the leading trio and fully reefed down and hoisted the staysail in readiness and that is why the capsize and the damage it has caused seems so cruel. But even Sébastien and the team know well luck also plays a role in this extreme Vendée Globe challenge.
Now having been forced to turn north, 90 degrees away from the direct route, Seb's race for the lead has been severely compromised although extraordinarily he is actually still in 6th place. Even if Sébastien is able to affect repairs to his rudder system and cracked coachroof and other collateral damage can only ever be patched up and his ability to push BT at 100% is, in reality, impossible.
It is a tough time for Sébastien and the team as these thoughts go round and round in his mind. Until then he must wait for flatter seas so he can fully grasp the situation and see what choice he has to make - to end what has been a brilliant race so far or make repairs that may allow him to at least finish his second Vendée Globe solo race. However, after a Jules Verne, the 2004 Vendée Globe and a Volvo Ocean Race, Sébastien's mission was pure and simple which was to win the this edition of Vendée Globe.
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