Vendee GLobe - Marc Guillemot is continuing without keel

6:46 PM Mon 9 Feb 2009 GMT

'Marc Guillemot on Safran' Jacques Vapillon

Marc Guillemot announced this morning that there was some serious damage to Safran, concerning her keel after he noticed that it was loose in its box and had slid down a few centimetres.

Late this morning, Marc Guillemot called his shore team to inform that he had lost the keel.

Marc Guillemot has filled the ballast tanks on his monohull to lower at the most the centre of gravity and is sailing under small jib with three reefs in the mainsail.

The boat is now configured to sail without a keel and is continuing to Les Sables d'Olonne at reduced speed. By the end of the week, the weather should improve with essentially downwind sailing.

There will shortly be a radio session with Marc Guillemot available on the website, www.safransixty.com

At 15:30, Safran was sailing at 23? 49.36 W 42? 16.56 N making nine knots.

Latest ETAs

Here are the latest ETAs from Richard Silvani of M?t?o France based on the weather charts from 00h00 on Monday 9th February. These times indicated in GMT may change as the high pressure area heads up over the Bay of Biscay.

- Safran: dependent on the speed she can sail at

- Roxy: between 12:00 on Thursday and 18h00 on Friday 13 February.

- Pindar, Aviva: between 12:00 on Monday 16 and 12:00 on Wednesday 18 February.

- Akena: between 00:00 on Thursday 19 and 00:00 on Saturday 21 February.

Earlier Report . . .

This morning at 05:40 GMT, Thierry Brault, head of Marc Guillemot's shore team rang the Vend?e Globe Race Directors to inform them of a keel problem aboard Safran.

While the damage for the moment remains unspecified it is known that on 11 December, while Marc Guillemot was sailing at more than 20 knots towards the Kerguelen Islands, Safran had a collision with a sea mammal.

This impact may have contributed to the problem he is experiencing today.

The keel on Safran has worked loose in its slid down a few centimeters lower in the keel box.

Since he realized the problem, Marc Guillemot has managed to partially secure his keel from dropping further using ropes, linking the keel head to the mast and winch.

As such the boat therefore remains watertight and stable, but this fix is temporary and is seen as precarious.

Marc Guillemot has not requested any help for the moment. He is in good health and continuing on his way.

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Vendee GLobe - Marc Guillemot is continuing without keel

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