Part of the connecting link in the steering system in the Safran has been damaged. Marc Guillemot and Yann Eliès are going to have to carry out a pit stop in the Dominican Republic. The shore team is preparing for this stopover, which is due to be made on Wednesday. Safran will then get back in the race.
« In her current state, the boat is impossible to steer and even the autopilot is struggling,” explained Marc Guillemot. He added, « because of it getting stuck and the lever effect, there is the risk of breaking everything or making the problem worse, if we do nothing. It cost us a spinnaker yesterday (Saturday) which ripped. Above all, we are having to restrict our choice of sail and cannot have the right sails up for the weather.”
This explains the slower speeds that we have seen on Safran over the past 48 hours. In these conditions, attempting to regain ground on the other boats is impossible. Marc Guillemot and Yann Eliès cannot get 100% out of the boat. The skipper of Safran took the only reasonable decision: « I informed the race directors this morning (Sunday) that we would be stopping in the Dominican Republic to carry out repairs. »
« No way are we retiring »
Two members of the technical team will be flying out there with the parts that need to be replaced. The repair, “which shouldn’t take longer than an hour or two,” is due to be carried out on Wednesday in Bayahibe Bay, which is to the east of the capital Santo Domingo. « That means we only have to go forty miles or so away from the direct route. It’s getting there that is likely to see us losing time, as this bay is on the leeward side, » added Marc Guillemot. This morning (Sunday) there is a little under 1000 miles to sail to reach this bay.
On the other hand, “No way are we retiring. We’ve never done that and even if it means we’re at the bottom of the rankings, we will be setting off again after repairing. » This is a huge disappointment, but must be put into perspective. « Of course, we’re disappointed, but no one died, » commented the skipper of Safran, « Better for this damage to happen now rather than during the Vendée Globe, which remains our main goal. »