Vendée Globe day 39 - Yann Eliès injured, rescue under way

By Vendée Globe media 18 Dec 2008 20:55

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1500 HRS GMT Rankings: (FRA, unless stated)
Click here to see the latest position map

1. Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) at + 13243.9 miles
2. Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) at 31.2 miles
3. Seb Josse (BT) at + 81.5 miles
4. Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux) at + 86.2 miles
5. Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) + 293.4 miles

Selected International:
10. Sam Davies, GBR, (ROXY) at + 914.8 miles
11. Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) at + 1037.8 miles
12. Dee Caffari, GBR, (AVIVA) at + 1444.7 miles
14. Steve White, GBR, (Toe in the Water) at + 2005.1 miles
15. Johnny Malbon, GBR, (Artemis) at + 2368.2 miles
16. Rich Wilson, USA, (Great American III) at + 2439.5 miles
17. Derek Hatfield, CAN, (Algimouss Spirit of Canada) at + 2701 miles
19. Norbert Sedlacek, AUT, (Nauticsport.Kapsch) + 3361.4 miles

This morning at 0900hrs Yann Eliès skipper of Generali sustained a fracture to his left leg while he was working on the foredeck of his Open 60. It is understood he was thrown on to the deck by a violent jolt to the boat when it was stopped suddenly by a big wave.

He has been advised by the race doctor Dr Chauve, and an evacuation process is under way. An Australian Navy Frigate has been detailed and is due to leave Perth this evening close to 1900hrs GMT and should take around 48 hours to reach Generali’s location.

Yann Eliès was injured early this morning while he was on the foredeck of Generali while changing sails. He was working by the pulpit when the boat was stopped suddenly by a big wave and he was slammed, it is understood, against the deck. He managed to crawl into the cockpit and down below where he alerted his team. He has been advised by the Vendée Globe doctor Dr Jean Yves Chaud who has confirmed that he believes the solo skipper has sustained a fracture to his left femur. The skin is not broken and he has advised Eliès to de-mobilise the limb as much as possible. The doctor reported this afternoon that the skipper is slightly more comfortable, is at his berth by his navigation station but has not yet managed to reach his medical kit which is about two metres away.

A medical evacuation procedure is under way, coordinated by the Australian MRCC in Canberra. They have detailed the Australian Navy’s 180 metre long Adelaide class Frigate Arunta to be ready to leave Perth this at around 2000hrs GMT this evening. The Arunta can make 30 knots and should take around two days to reach Generali’s position.

Two Vendee Globe skippers have been asked to make best course to Eliès’ position. Marc Guillemot was 100 miles to the south, sailing in a SW’ly wind and so is due nearby very soon. Sam Davies on Roxy was more than 520 miles to the west, some 40 hours sailing time to get there.

Denis Horeau, Race Director of the Vendée Globe:

“So the job of these two skippers is mostly psychological support, that is to say that Yann knows that two fellow skippers are close by, and if absolutely necessary, and I emphasise absolutely necessary, we can count on their assistance.”

“We are waiting to know whether or not a helicopter is embarked aboard the frigate. We don’t know at the moment. In the coming hours we shall more information on the exact departure time of the boat, and further information about its capabilities.”

“For my part I should say that the Australians are capable of exceptional work, they are rescue experts, as several Vendée sailors can attest. At the moment Generali, Yann Eliès’ boat, is 800 miles from the coast of Australia, he is on port tack, and making very slow progress to the north.

Erwan Steff, Logistics and administration manager Team Generali:

“At about 1000hrs this morning Yann contacted me to say that he needed help, he is in a bad way. A sudden jolt when he was on the foredeck stopped the boat very suddenly, he was thrown to the deck, and he has broken his left leg. He crawled back inside the boat to be safe and there he called us, his team, to request immediate assistance. He consulted the doctor. The doctor diagnosed a fracture of the femur and said he should not move. At the moment he is safe in his bunk, he is following the advice of the doctor and staying warm, eating and take painkillers. He has a sail configuration which allows him to stay like that, he has three reefs in the main and small staysail set. He is just waiting for the psychological support that Marc Guillemot’s arrival will give him. For our part we are in permanent contact to know how things are going, to keep his spirits up and so he knows that other sailors, his mates are on their way.”

Marie-Christine Lanne, Communciactions Director, Generali France:

“We were privileged 20 years ago to be involved with the first Vendée Globe, that is to say in Alain Gautier’s era. We have been sponsors of sailing for 34 years and supported Yann now for ten years and so it is very emotional for us to know that he is in these difficulties. We are working very closely with the Vendée Globe race direction to make sure that help is brought to him as quickly as possible and we are following everything very closely. Everyone we work with is mobilised as well and being kept as up to date as possible so they can keep him in their thoughts. Yann is a very talented and responsible sailor and the important thing is we see him back as quickly as possible, safe and sound.”

Answers to Questions at this afternoon’s press conference:

Is there a chance of the sailors going on board Generali?

Erwan Steff: For the moment we are not looking at anything else other than emotional support. The sea conditions are pretty difficult. We are lucky that Yann happens to be following a pretty favourable course but at the moment there is absolutely no boarding envisaged. But it is important that he knows that his friends are there.

What medication has he taken?

Erwan Steff: He has not taken any medication yet, all that he has been able to do is crawl back inside the boat and get into his bunk in front of the nav station close to his iridium phone, but he has not been able to open his medical kit, but to even pick up the phone is an effort, and the boat’s movement is painful for him. The doctor’s advice is that he conserves his energy for the next 30 hours because he is in a lot of pain.

Erwan Steff, The medical kit is at most two metres from him, I do not know what side of the boat it is on, but Yann is in the middle of the boat at his nav station.”

Dr Jean Yves Chauve, Official Race Doctor for the Vendée Globe:

“For the moment he is in his bunk but he is in a lot of pain but at least he is a little more comfortable now. From what he described in terms of the deformation it was pretty clear that he has a fracture of his left leg.”

“The biggest risk is if there is a displacement so that he has to do everything possible to avoid movement. He has morphine on board, probably enough for three days.”

Vendée Globe Rescue History: MRCC Intervention

1988 - NO MRCC intervention --- Philippe Poupon capsize – Loïck Peyron arrived and righted Poupon’s boat off south of South Africa

1992 - Disappearance of Nigel Burgess off Finisterre, intervention of French Navy and Spanish MRCC.

1996 - MRCC Canberra intervention rescue of Tony Bullimore and Thierry Dubois by HMAS Adelaide. Flyover by Australian Air Force for three days.

Raphael Dinelli rescued by Pete Goss.

Disappearance of Gery Roufs in South Pacific. Intervention MRCC Chile in concert with French MRCC.

2000 - No Intervention

2004 - No Intervention

More information on the www.vendeeglobe.org website.

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