Vedee Globe Ocean Racing, Stamm Starts his Engine but is Not Finished Yet

Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat) was forced to use his engine in order to navigate to a mooring at the Auckland Islands on Sunday morning (his evening), but the Vendée Globe race office indicated that he will be allowed to do this under the race rules because of the exceptional circumstances. Marc Guillemot (Safran) was permitted to do the same by the jury after mooring at the Auckland Islands in the last edition, in 2008-09, where he successfully repaired his mainsail traveller track. Guillemot briefed Stamm’s shore crew on navigating the Auckland Islands.

Stamm, who is anchored in Sandy bay, south of Enderby Island, in the northeast of the Auckland Islands archipelago, is hoping to leave by Christmas day after making repairs to his boat. The stop has already cost the 49-year-old Swiss skipper about 350 miles since he diverted at 1700hrs UTC on Saturday night. He will not be alone for Christmas as he is being watched by sea lions, seals and orca.

After arriving in winds gusting up to 40 knots, he is enjoying far more benign conditions of around 6 knots. But each hour sees the four boats ahead of him escape and Jean Le Cam (SynerCiel) draw closer.

“This morning, just before 6am (French time), when he was 50°30'275 S and 166°16'773 E, Bernard Stamm has broken the seal of his engine to be able to be at anchor,” Stamm’s team said in a press release. “It was a complicated manoeuvre when you know the wind is blowing at 40 knots in the area.”

“He has since begun the repairs on his hydrogenerators. He cut off all the communication tools to save some energy to go back at sea when he will be done. The repairs should last from 24 to 48 hours. Looking at the weather forecasts, he should ideally leave before December 25 in order to escape from the powerful winds coming from the North. On land, seals, killer whales and sea lions are watching.”

Denis Horeau, the race director of the Vendée Globe, explained Stamm’s circumstances: “He had to turn on the engine because approaching this spot was impossible with sails only. So, what he will do regarding race rules is make a report to the jury saying; ‘at this precise time I had to run the engine.’ He could moor at this time at this spot and the jury will make a decision for this special situation when we have all the elements from Bernard.

“The approach was really tricky. He had to tack and gybe with only a small jib (sail) at the bow of the boat. But he fortunately had the help of his friend Marc Guillemot (Safran). Marc had to stop in exactly the same spot four years ago and Marc remembers exactly the situation ashore. He made something like a small roadbook for Bernard saying: ‘When you see this place please take a left, when you see this rock please take care etc.’ It’s a very tricky spot with seaweed, so the anchor has to be really fixed on the ground not to have the boat drifting. Thanks to his experience he was able to do it.”

Stamm has built his last three boats and has the technical ability. He also has the determination not to take the easy road and sail 200 miles to New Zealand and out of the race. He has unfinished business after not finishing in the 2000-01 edition with autopilot problems and tiller damager and in 2008-09 after trying to stop in difficult conditions at the Kerguelen Islands and running aground.

Horeau was certain Stamm would be able to continue and finish the race
“Do not forget that Bernard has tried many times to finish the Vendée Globe and this is his main aim in life, he really wants to finish,” Horeau said. “He’s a really good technician and I’m 100% sure he’ll finish this Vendée Globe.”