Delta Dore's pit stop to fix spreaders

9:37 AM Sun 23 Nov 2008 GMT

'Delta Dore ? Fran?ois Van Malleghem / DPPI / Vend?e Globe' Vendee Globe 2008 &copy

In the Vendee Globe, J?r?mie Beyou (Delta Dore) has been heading towards Brazil since 0800hrs GMT this morning, probably aiming for Recife, in order to make an unaided pit stop to inspect the damage to two spreaders on the starboard side (his leeward side). The skipper of Delta Dore is not retiring and hopes to carry out repairs by himself.

At 9h12 this morning 10th placed J?r?mie Beyou phoned the Race Directors to inform them of the damage. At around 7H UTC, J?r?mie noticed that two top spreaders on the leeward side (starboard) were no longer attached to the mast, damage which would ultimately prevent him from changing tack. The sailor is in no danger and is sailing at reduced speed towards the nearest land, Brazil. He is currently heading for the city of Recife some 430 mile away (on a bearing of 240?) which he would expect to reach in 2-3 days.

'I was inside the boat and I heard a noise. I went outside and I saw the spreaders hanging on the leeward side with the rigging swinging around. I hove too. I'm going to make sure the rig is as secure as possible by taking the strain off the sails by bearing away. I currently have the wind from astern,' J?r?mie told his shore team

There was no impact to explain the damage. Only the repeated slamming in the choppy seas might explain why the spreader broke away from the mast. Vend?e Globe race rules only allow external help in Les Sables d'Olonne. Each competitor must carry out repairs alone, according to the rules to stay in the race. Delta Dore cannot moor up in a harbour, but can only shelter off the coast. This is what Yves Parlier did in the 2000-2001 Vend?e Globe, when he repaired his mast while sheltering off New Zealand.

For the leaders Sunday morning feels just like Saturday morning. The sounds on board at the same, the weather is the same, the wind angles are very similar, the routine is settled, the pace is close but there is still no time to lose concentration and let the mind wander.

Into the third week at sea later today, and Lo?ck Peyron has lead on ten days so far, and as the leading pack stretched past the island of Fernando Noronhao - 200 miles or so to the east - yesterday evening, life on board retains an incredible similarity, minute to minute, hour to hour and, eventually day to day. Gains and losses are down to progressive bends in the wind, small sail or ballast trimming differences or changes of course, and the simple matter of very small differences in optimization between the leaders.

Gitana Eighty is judged to have made a three mile gain, sailing slightly higher as the wind backs a fraction more easterly, but behind the regular pace is metronomic. After two weeks of racing Vincent Riou (PRB) in fourth and Armel Le Cl?ac'h (Brit Air) fifth are just four miles apart, racing virtually side by side, as if attached by string.

Vincent Riou (PRB) Vendee Globe - image Beno?t Stichelbaut / PRB - ? PRB

Seventh placed Mike Golding, GBR, (Ecover 3) continues to post impressive average speeds on the Owen-Clarke design and is chipping steadily away at Yann Elies (G?n?rali). From being 8.6 miles behind last night, Golding is now 3.9 miles in deficit.

Around 100 miles north and a little east, the battle for 11th and 12th has lost none of its needle as Dominque Wavre, SUI, (Temenos) keeps Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) in check for the moment. Five miles of difference last night is four this morning.

As they struggle out of the Doldrums Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) and Jonny Malbon, GBR, (Artemis II) are licking their wounds. Malbon has lost in the region of 206 miles in two days, White, about 238, while it is Rich Wilson (Great American III) who is struggling in the light winds glue pot this morning.

Swiss skipper Bernard Stamm, (Chemin?es Poujoulat) gained his first place this morning, since re-starting, passing the Austrian Norbert Sedlacek (Nauticsport-Kapsch), to lie 23rd.

Voices from the Sea.

Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2):'Everything is fine here! I'm still sailing in the trade winds. On board the boat, all is well. I slept well during the night and am eating well. I'm taking advantage of some quiet time to carry out some repairs before reaching the far south in ten days or so. My home is heeling over and it's wet out on deck. This tack looks a bit long. I'm trying to keep ahead of those chasing after me. The goal is to stay in the first three. I've a decent speed for the moment, but everyone is sailing quickly!'

Bernard Stamm (Chemin?es Poujoulat)is now in 23rd place 881 miles from the leader. During the night he overtook Norbert Sedlacek (Nauticsport-Kapsch).

'The fun and games started a bit further north than expected, but they are clearly here. The first squall turned up early in the night and as there is no moon, I didn't really see it coming. I could feel something strange in the air and by the time I put on the radar, the squall was already here. Sailed in under full mainsail and big gennaker. Fortunately the wind didn't get above 30 knots but it lasted a good half hour with heavy rain and lightning. Then the wind came around 120? and I was back with the conditions I had had before the squall. So downwind in 15 knots of wind. Very soon after another squall appeared, but this time I had time to hoist the solent and take down the gennaker. Since then, I have been sailing close-hauled in 15-20 knots of wind in the rain and I am on the course I wanted. So what is good is that the wind is blowing. Have a nice day, Bernard.'

Vendee Globe Ranking - Sunday 05:00 HRS GMT. (FRA, unless stated)

1- Lo?ck Peyron (Gitana Eighty) 20924 nm to the finish
2- Seb Josse (BT) at + 25.4 nm to leader
3- Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2) at + 39.7 nm to leader
4- Vincent Riou (PRB) at + 51.5 nm to leader
5-Armel Le Cl?ac'h (Brit Air) at + 55.5 nm

Selected International

7- Mike Golding, GBR, (ECOVER 3) at + 73.3 nm
11- Dominique Wavre, SUI, (Temenos 2) at + 209.6 nm
12- Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) at + 213.4 nm
14- Sam Davies, GBR,(ROXY) at + 253.2 nm
16- Dee Caffari, GBR, (AVIVA) at + 419 nm
18- Unai Basurko, ESP, (Pakea Bizkaia) at + 531 nm
19 - Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) at + 554 nm
20- Johnny Malbon, GBR, (Artemis) at + 588 nm
22- Rich Wilson, USA, (Great America III) at + 669 nm
23- Bernard Stamm, SUI, (Chemin?es Poujoulat) at + 881 nm
24- Norbert Sedlacek, AUT, (Nauticsport-Kapsch) at + 909 nm
25- Derek Hatfield, CAN, (Algimouss Spirit of Canada) at + 1402 nm

by Vendee Globe media