Cheminees Poujoulat restarts Vendee Globe race

9:07 PM Thu 13 Nov 2008 GMT

'Bernard Stamm (SUI) CHEMINEES POUJOULAT leaving Les sables d'Olonne after his team had rebuilt a new bowsprit. 2008 Vendee Globe' Th.Martinez &copy

It was at 0425 hours this morning that Cheminees Poujoulat crossed the start line of the Vendee Globe for the second time following a titanic amount of work achieved in record time. This race against the clock, which began onshore on Sunday evening, was simply a prelude to what Bernard Stamm is currently engaged in on the water.

There were some nocturnal and fairly surreal to-ings and fro-ings which took place at Port Olonna prior to dawn today.

Kito De Pavant (FRA) Groupe Bel arriving in Les sables d'Olonne. 2008 Vendee Globe - Th.Martinez &copy

Kito de Pavant and Yannick Bestaven made it back to Les Sables and won't be heading back into the race, whilst Bernard Stamm cast off just half an hour later.

For Cheminees Poujoulat, the Vendee Globe began again at 0425 hours this morning. 'The whole team has done a superb job day and night since I returned to port on Sunday evening to repair the damage. I'm three days behind and I'm heading out into a zone of high pressure, which isn't great. That's just how it is though. We'll see what happens as it's a long road'. A good sport and all too aware how lucky he is to be heading back into the race, Bernard Stamm insisted on thanking all the people who had come to offer their support, beginning with his partners. 'In addition to all those who have been working on the boat, I've received considerable moral and material support and I want to thank everyone involved. I'm obviously referring to the representatives from Cheminees Poujoulat, as well as the CCI, the town of Les Sables, those in charge of the port and Sophie Vercelleto from the SAEM Vendee who has also played a big part'.

After exchanging a few words with Kito, his less fortunate friend, Bernard left the pontoon to head offshore, accompanied by ten or so launches. He was also applauded by the crowds who had come out, despite the late hour, to welcome in both Bestaven and De Pavant and bid farewell to Cheminees Poujoulat.

At the 1100 hour ranking this morning, Cheminees Poujoulat had a deficit of 957.6 miles on the leader, Gitana Eigthy, and 430 miles on Foncia, his 'pacesetter'. The 60 foot Imoca was making 12 knots of boatspeed in 15 knots of NW'ly wind, whilst off Portugal, the tail end of the fleet was being considerably slowed. Meantime the leaders are already powering along towards the Canaries.

Thierry Martinez took these images at the dock in Les Sables d'Olonne (FRA).

Two boats that arrived back without a mast; Kito de Pavant (FRA) Groupe Bel and Yannick Bestaven (FRA) Aquarelle.com.

Bernard Stamm on Cheminees Poujoulat returned to the race.

Kito De Pavant (FRA) Groupe Bel arriving in Les sables d'Olonne port without mast. 2008 Vendee Globe - Th.Martinez &copy

Kito De Pavant (Groupe Bell) with Bernard Stamm (Cheminees Pouhoulat) leaving Les Sables as Kito arrived. 2008 Vendee Globe - Th.Martinez &copy

Groupe Bel arriving in Les sables d'Olonne port without mast. 2008 Vendee Globe - Th.Martinez &copy

Kito De Pavant (FRA) Groupe Bel, arriving in Les sables d'Olonne port without mast. 2008 Vendee Globe - Th.Martinez &copy

Kito De Pavant (FRA) Groupe Bel arriving in Les sables d'Olonne port without mast. Kito with Yannick Bestaven (FRA) who arrived 10 min before with also a boat without mast. 2008 Vendee Globe - Th.Martinez &copy

More images of the race at ThMartinez/Sea&Co - www.thmartinez.com

by Kate Jennings/Thierry Martinez images/SW