Thomas Ruyant on LinkedOut, is the new leader of the Vendee Globe this morning after Charlie Dalin on APIVIA suffered damage to his port foil system overnight.
Ruyant leads by 8 nm from Yannick Bestaven on Maitre Coq as Dalin drops to third place, 127 nm behind the leader, while he deals with the damage.
Dalin reported the foil damage around 18:00hrs UTC Monday night.
He immediately slowed APIVIA and is now sailing at around 4 knots while he assesses the damage to his port foil, the extent of which has not been communicated by his team.
This incident does not appear to have been caused by a collision with an unidentified floating object and the port foil remains whole.
The damage is to the lower support, where the foil rests as it leaves the boat. Charlie has therefore been focusing on strengthening the foil attachment to make sure the casing remains secure.
Ruyant also suffered damage to his port foil earlier in the race – on 26 November – but has remained in the top three since he hit an object in the South Atlantic.
He had to cut-off a large part of the port foil and though compromised he managed to stay with the leaders.
Bestaven, who had been in second place behind Dalin, has also suffered problems.
He revealed this morning that he has just spent 90 minutes at the top of his mast repairing his J2, ‘all terrain’ headsail which has been damaged and out of action for more than a week.
Sounding breathless but exuberant at his successful repair which was made at just the right time before heading into the south Pacific Wednesday or Thursday.
Vendée Globe Leaders – Day 38 – Tue 15 Dec – Updated 17:00 hrs UK
1st FRA Thomas Ruyant – LinkedOut – 12,551 nm to finish – sailing at 18 knots
2nd FRA Yannick Bestaven – Maître CoQ IV – 8 nm
3rd FRA Charlie Dalin – APIVIA – 127 nm – foil damaged sailing at 14 knots
4th FRA Jean Le Cam – Yes we Cam! – 433 nm
7th FRA Louis Burton – BUREAU VALLEE 2 – 436 nm
5th FRA Benjamin DUTREUX – OMIA – WATER FAMILY – 337 nm
6th FRA Boris Herrmann – SEAEXPLORER – 443 nm
7th FRA Damien Seguin – GROUPE APICIL – 445 nm
9th FRA Isabelle JOSCHKE – MACSF – 522 nm
10th FRA Giancarlo Pedote – PRYSMIAN GROUP – 560 nm
GBR:
19th GBR Pip Hare – Medallia – 3128 nm
23rd GBR Miranda Merron – Campagne de France – 3829 nm
Retired:
Nicolas Troussel, Alex Thomson, Kevin Escoffier, Alex Thomson, Sebastien Simon, Sam Davies, Fabrice Amedo
