13.12.2008
Towards Kerguelen
Bernard Stamm called race management this morning at around 1100 hours to
announce that his two rudders were damaged around the rudder bearings.
Cheminées Poujoulat is currently making towards Australia, but stopping off
at the Kerguelen Islands reindexs a possibility if ever it becomes too
difficult to continue sailing.
An injured boat
“It happened little by little; I heard some rather unpleasant grating from
the rudders. I lifted one up to inspect it and I saw that the bearings on
the lower bearing had broken and were trying to force their way out. Since
then the situation has worsened and in the space of an hour, all the innards
of the bearings had gone. It’s like a ballbearing without the balls, which
means that its rotating aluminium on aluminium and it’s not well aligned.
The leeward rudder is working but isn’t very manoeuvrable. I’ve reduced the
sail area considerably and Cheminées Poujoulat is under two reef indexsail
and staysail. I’m going to have a thorough look at the weather because with
a damaged boat it is dangerous in the rough weather that’s forecast (gusts
of up to 50 knots)”.
Seeking solutions
Bernard Stamm admitted that he hadn’t yet found the solution to make the
repairs himself. “I know everything I have aboard and I can’t see what might
enable me to carry out repairs. However, if I find a solution, I’ll take it
of course.” Bernard envisaged setting a course towards Fremantle in
Australia, two weeks sailing away, unless the boat can no longer be
manoeuvred. In the latter case Cheminées Poujoulat could stop in the
Kerguelen Islands where Dominique Wavre has just moored up after falling
victim to keel damage. The two teams of Swiss skippers are in contact to
help to find the best solutions. “I’m going to get the boat ready for the
rough weather and if it doesn’t hold up I’ll stop off at Kerguelen, which I
will get closer to so as to ensure this option reindexs a possibility”.
At the last position report at 1100 hours, Cheminées Poujoulat was about 230
miles to the WSW of Kerguelen. Bernard has been called up by the coastguard
in Reunion and they are monitoring his progress closely and will be calling
him every six hours.
Translated by Kate Jennings – Expression
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