7.Vendee Globe 2012/13

News Flash - November 16th
Savéol/Sam Davies dismasted

At 1945hrs (French time), on Thursday, November 15th, Samantha Davies contacted the race office of the Vendée Globe to report that her boat had dismasted. Davies is not injured. She is safe inside the boat with all the watertight doors closed. She is monitoring the situation and does not require assistance. She is wearing her survival suit and has safety equipment at hand. When the incident occurred, she was about 130 nautical miles northwest of Madeira (position 34 ° 20'N 19 ° 01'W). The conditions at the time of dismasting were: wind 260 °, 40 knots, swell northwest, 3 to 4 metres. But the situation will gradually improve, with winds decreasing to 15 knots in the second half of the night.

Foto: Mark Lloyd/DPPI

After speaking to Davies, the race office contacted the Cross Griz Nez (France's Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre) to release an urgent Notice to Mariners (AVURNAV). All vessels navigating in a 200 nautical mile radius around Savéol were informed of the incident and the position of the boat.
Media briefing at 9.30 am (French Time) at the race headquarters - Paris-Montparnasse.

After being dismasted, Sam Davies has secured Savéol

On Thursday, November 15th at 1945hrs (French time), Samantha Davies has reported her dismasting to the race office of the Vendée Globe and her team. At the time of the incident, Davies was inside the boat going downwind on starboard tack in a squall with 35 knots of wind and with a very confused sea state. While she was preparing to go out on deck to take in a third reef, she heard a noise and felt the mast come down on port. In the conditions, she could not respond immediately and cut the rigging, so she made herself safe inside the boat in her survival suit and waited for a drop in the wind.

Around 0130hrs, Davies began to release Savéol's rig by cutting the wires, sheets and halyards. It was a successful operation. At dawn, Davies will carry out a check of the boat before starting the engine and heading to Madeira. Currently, conditions are calmer at around 20 knots. Davies has been resting and is doing well.

Reminder: A press briefing will be given by Xavier David, team manager of Savéol, Friday, November 16 at 0930hrs (French time) at the Vendée Globe race headquarters in Montparnasse.