Vendee: Temenos II crippled by keel damage

6:15 PM Fri 12 Dec 2008 GMT

'Serious damage to the keel of Temenos II' Jean Marie Liot &copy

There's been a tough blow aboard Temenos II. At 14:20 GMT this Friday afternoon Swiss skipper Dominique Wavre notified the Vend?e Globe Course Directors that he had broken the head of the keel of Temenos II which means that the keel can no longer be held at a canted angle.

The result of this breakage is that the 3-tonne keel has come away from its rams and is no longer held in a stable position and is free to swing in big seas (Dominique spoke of 6m waves during the midday radio session) which is threatening the solidity of the hull bottom and hence the boat's integrity.

The Swiss skipper is aware of the danger of losing his keel or losing control of it, with the risk of damage to the hull. Wavre is concerned about these dangers and are considering the all of the options, including abandoning the boat. That is not yet the case Dominique Wavre and the skipper and his team are working on all contingencies.

He has reduced sail and filled Temenos II's ballast tanks and is going to attempt to sail at reduced speed in the direction of the Kerguelen Islands approximately 151 miles to the North East or Australia.

Wavre has now confirmed that he is making NE under two reefs and small headsail with the mainsail twisted off as much as possible. He anticipates arriving at the Bay of Moribhan around 09:00hrs GMT Saturday morning.

The skipper explained that he hadn't felt any impact at the point that the damage occurred.

Further information will be available later.

by Vendee media

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Vendee: Temenos II crippled by keel damage

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