Vendee Globe Ocean Racing, Storm Forces Stamm to sail to New Zealand

Unable to stay where he is because of the imminent arrival of storm force conditions, Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat) has been forced to sail to New Zealand on Monday afternoon. Stamm has been anchored at Sandy bay, south of Enderby Island, 200 miles south of New Zealand, since Sunday morning, as he tries to repair his hydrogenerators. He will attempt to finish his repairs and re-start the race.

The Swiss sailor was forced north to Sandy Bay after arriving in winds gusting up to 40 knots, and though the wind dropped his repairs have been slowed by continuous rain. As well as sea lions and orca he has also had the company of Professor Khromov since Sunday.

“On December 23, a Russian scientific vessel, "Professor Khromov" came to anchor in the same bay as Bernard Stamm,” Stamm’s team said yesterday. “Shortly after, the anchor of Cheminées Poujoulat couldn’t hold anymore, and forced the skipper to moor to his boat to his neighbour (the Professor Khromov) to save his IMOCA (Cheminées Poujoulat).

“The current situation is far from simple for the skipper whose repairs are going to be longer time than expected because of the incessant rain. In addition to the constant moisture, a storm will arrive on December 24th. When it’ll touch the archipelago, the boat won’t be protected anymore and will risk to be drifted to the coast. The Swiss decided to sail to the south of New Zealand to find a safer shelter and to continue his repairs.

“The possibility of getting fuel from the Russian ship was discarded by the skipper, determined to continue his Vendée Globe race. It was a  difficult choice but guided by the sense of responsibility. Bernard Stamm is determined to continue the race, just like any good sailor would do.

“Bernard Stamm keeps on reporting his repairs to the race directors and a statement will be made to the jury in order to track every stage of his work on the boat.”