SeaWayBLOG: Dramatic hours at the Vendèe Globe

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Dramatic hours at the Vendèe Globe

©Marc Guillemot/Safran/Vendée Globe
Marc Guillemot reach Generali the boat of the injured sailor Yann Elies

Yesterday (Thursday), Yann Elies was working at the bow, leaning on the pulpit, as he was preparing a sail, when his 60-foot boat, Generali, came to a sudden halt slamming into a wave, he was was thrown along the deck, felt a sudden acute pain, collapsed on the foredeck and had to crawl back inside his boat to contact his team. According to the initial diagnosis from Dr. Jean-Yves Chauve, the race doctor, Yann is suffering from a broken femur (thighbone). While he waits to be evacutated from his boat, following a request from the race directors, Marc Guillemot has changed course to help offer the injured skipper psychological support.
The race organizers organized quickly the evacuation and now everything is under way. So now unfortunately it can only be about waiting. For Yann Eliès any wait is too long, but the knowledge that help is on its way will be some comfort. The Royal Australian Navy’s 118 m long HMAS Arunta left dock in Perth at around 1800hrs GMT with a specialist medical team onboard and can make 30 knots depending on the sea conditions, and so is expected to arrive in around 40 hours.
In the meanwhile at Marc Guillemot has now arrived close to Yann Eliès’ Generali and will remain on station until the arrival of the Royal Australian Navy’s Type Anzac Frigate HMAS Arunta. He reached the injured skipper after sailing close to 100 miles.
Guillemot approached under substantially reduced sail and has been less than 100 metres away. He has re-iterated that the objective at the moment is primarily to let his fellow skipper know that he is there close by, but there are no intentions of trying to transfer across from his Open 60 Safran on to Generali, unless there is a change in the injured skipper’s conditions or the risk to him increases.
Guillemot is believed to have arrived some time between 2130hrs and 2200hrs GMT and has spoken to Eliès by Iridium phone and by VHF and will continue to speak to him to help monitor his condition as well as offering him support and encouragement.
He reported that the conditions of the injured skipper was stable.
Wind conditions in the immediate area are reported to be around 15-18 knots.