Vendée Globe: Dismasted in the Indian Ocean

(December 17, 2016; Day 42) – Today at 1742 UTC, Stéphane Le Diraison informed the Race Directors that his IMAOCA 60 Compagnie du Lit – Boulogne Billancourt had dismasted.

The skipper was not injured and sounded in good health when he called. Positioned in tenth place, he was sailing in a 30-35 knot NW’ly wind when the incident happened.

He has cut away the damaged rig and rigging, he is in fair spirits, and was working hard to set a jury rig – probably with his boom. He is now is making a course for Melbourne, Australia 950 nautical miles away.

Le Diraison is the eighth retirement from the field of 29 skippers that began November 6 from Les Sables d’Olonn, France.

Race details – Tracker – Ranking – Facebook – VendeeGlobe TV

Background:
The eighth Vendée Globe, which began November 6 from Les Sables d’Olonn, France, is the only non-stop solo round the world race without assistance. Twenty-nine skippers representing four continents and ten nations set sail on IMOCA 60s in pursuit of the record time set by François Gabart in the 2012-13 race of 78 days, 2 hours and 16 minutes.

For the first time in the history of the event, seven skippers will set sail on IMOCA 60s fitted with foils: six new boats (Banque Populaire VIII, Edmond de Rothschild, Hugo Boss, No Way Back, Safran, and StMichel-Virbac) and one older generation boat (Maitre Coq). The foils allow the boat to reduce displacement for speed gains in certain conditions. It will be a test to see if the gains can topple the traditional daggerboard configuration during the long and demanding race.

Retirements:
November 12, Day 7 – Tanguy de Lamotte, Initiatives Coeur, masthead crane failure
November 19, Day 14 – Bertrand de Broc, MACSF, UFO collision
November 22, Day 17 – Vincent Riou, PRB, UFO collision
November 24, Day 19 – Morgan Lagravière, Safran, UFO collision
December 4, Day 29 – Kojiro Shiraishi, Spirit of Yukoh, dismasted
December 6, Day 31 – Kito de Pavant, Bastide Otio, UFO collision
December 7, Day 32 – Sébastien Josse, Edmond de Rothschild, foil damage
December 17, Day 42 – Stéphane Le Diraison, Compagnie du Lit – Boulogne Billancourt, dismasted

Source: Vendee Globe