Wednesday 17th december 2008
Safran forced to sail under reduced sail
Marc Guillemot is still in the race, in 8th place in the rankings in this merciless Vendée Globe, where eleven boats have retired in 38 days. Since yesterday, damage to the mast track has been forcing him to advance under reduced sail. This is of course, handicapping him in terms of speed, but is fortunately not dramatic. The skipper of Safran began the first phase of repairs that will be carried out in two steps.
«It's a pity as I was catching up Brit Air and PRB, but the most important thing is to stay in the race and I'm still here!» Marc Guillemot is not hiding the fact that the damage he suffered to his mast yesterday is handicapping him, as he can no longer hoist the indexsail above second reef for the moment. That explains why Safran lost a few miles in comparison to yesterday's rankings, even if she is still in eighth place.
Marc Guillemot explains: «Yesterday, two hours after passing the Western Australia Gate, I saw that the indexsail traveller car was out of its track. I had to bring down the sail quickly to avoid all the battens snapping one after the other. It was no easy matter sailing downwind in thirty-knot winds!»
A repair job in two stages
At the moment, the SAFRAN sailing team is looking at the most effective and easiest ways for Marc to tackle these repairs. The skipper of Safran will have to carry out repairs in two stages. Firstly, there is a temporary system, which should allow Marc to hoist the sail up to second reef. Secondly, Marc will be climbing the mast to carry out more thorough repairs - , piercing, drilling and screwing - which will allow him to be under full sail. Depending on the weather conditions, these repairs could be carried out while he continues to sail or in the lee of an island (to the south of New Zealand, for example, which will mean he will not be prolonging his route). or at the Horn. «I shall take the decision at the last moment. In any case, I'm not going to stop if we're in the middle of a huge low-pressure system allowing us to sail quickly and on top of that, I shan't be taking any risks with the boat in a place, where she would be too exposed,» said Marc.
Easing off is out of the question!»
However, in spite of that the skipper is not downhearted, far from it. «Of course, it's not a nice thing to happen, but damage happens. I always said I had three goals in this Vendée Globe: firstly being at the start, then finishing and if possible winning. The first goal has been reached, the second is ongoing and is still as important. I intend to do my utmost to reach Les Sables d'Olonne, and easing off is out of the question!»
«The race is far from over!»
Marc Guillemot has been able up until now to overcome all the difficulties he has faced to get up and stay with the group of nine boats leading the way and on this 38th day of the race can still hope to win. The merciless Indian Ocean has already eliminated three favourites - Loïck Peyron, Dominique Wavre and Bernard Stamm - and seriously handicapped a fourth, Jean-Pierre Dick, who is still heading towards the north to attempt to carry out repairs in calmer waters.
This is not what is happening to Safran, who is continuing on her normal route with a handicap in terms of power that Marc Guillemot has already begun to deal with. «At the moment, we have 24 knots of wind and heavy seas, low visibility, drizzle, a bit like winter in Brittany. But the wind will be strengthening today, which will be better for the sail I have up,» added Marc Guillemot, who appeared perfectly serene. His experience and perfect knowledge of his boat are probably the reason for that. Carrying out repairs when you are sailing around the world is something that solo sailors have to deal with everyday «and on top of that, the race is far from over: we haven't yet finished the first half!»
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