It is often difficult to go around the world without having some technical issues from time to time. Time for repairs!
We could do without these kinds of minor problems that can spoil a day… or more! Fortunately, it was more fear than harm for the 1997 IMOCA! “Well, one of them decided to break away this morning: it’s the gudgeons that allow the hydrogenerator to be attached to the boat. Good news, I don’t have any collateral damage, nor have I torn the cables so it will be easier once reassembled to make it work. However, we will have to wait for the weather to calm down a bit to consider a repair/reinstallation, I will be able to repair tomorrow when I am on starboard tack… Meanwhile, the engine’s running.”
But Alexia is not the only one experiencing minor technical issues in recent days. The skipper of Bureau Vallée 2 is without an autopilot since last night. Louis Burton, 8th in ranking, planned to take shelter along Macquarie Island tonight to climb to the top of the mast, for a 24-hour stopover. An unbearable situation even in the short term, the Malouin unable to let go of his IMOCA’s controls even to eat or sleep. For Romain Attanasio, in 13th place, it was impossible to reef the mainsail as he was surfing in 25-30 knots of wind ahead of a depression. Nine hours of practical work, including very precise filing of a small piece of the sail’s car, solved the issue.
The list goes on! Manu Cousin is concerned about his rudder, which he had repaired upon entering the Indian Ocean but has since developed cracks that will require his attention. Stéphane Le Diraison also admitted to climbing his bowsprit to replace a broken furling line that prevented him from furling his sail in heavy weather. As for Isabelle Joschke, the skipper of MACSF is down to only diesel to run her engine and recharge her batteries following the breakdown of the hydrogenerator like Alexia. Charlie Dalin, long-time leader of the race, stopped his efforts for an hour to check his repair on the foil’s lower box.
The list is long, and it shows how much competitors draw from within themselves to find a solution to each problem. And the only thing we are certain of is that it’s far from over as the conditions are harsh in this Vendée Globe! The road to Les Sables d’Olonne will still be fraught with obstacles!
