Vendée Globe 2012-2013 - Day 54

Disqualified Stamm will not give up the fight

Stamm pledges to get case reopened and will try to reach Les Sables d'Olonne

After being informed that he has been disqualified from the Vendée Globe solo non stop around the world race for 'receiving outside assistance' when his anchor dragged during a technical stop in New Zealand's remote Auckland Islands on December 23rd, Swiss solo skipper Bernard Stamm has pledged to try and have his case reopened by the five person International Jury.

The skipper of Cheminées Poujoulat needs to give the Jury good reason to do so, by presenting new, additional information beyond that in his original submission, before Thursday morning.

It is the cruellest of blows for the skipper whose third campaign to complete the Vendée Globe appears to have been foreshortened in the Pacific Ocean, even after spending nearly four days in two different locations repairing his hydrogenerators.

Vivid memories of losing his boat in this race four years ago in the Kerguelen Islands in very similar circumstances, trying to anchor in 40kts of wind, will almost certainly have been foremost in his mind during this unfortunate episode.

He confirmed that he will continue on the course to the finish in Les Sables d'Olonne. Skippers and observers have already suggested the very popular Stamm would be accorded a huge welcome if he did.

Sandy Bay recap

After anchoring Sandy Bay to the south of Enderby Island difficult conditions, Stamm awoke to find he had been joined in the compact cove by a Russian scientific ship which had anchored close to him. Realising Cheminées Pooujoulat's anchor was dragging and he was drifting towards the ship, Stamm contacted the captain by VHF, and asked if he could lie alongside. He reported that when he was inside his IMOCA 60 preparing things to move, he came back on deck to find a Russian crewman on board.

Stamm, who twice lead this race, sounded despondent but objective when he told Vendée Globe LIVE today: "When I saw my anchor was moving I called on the VHF to warn the other boat that I was getting closer. They are the one who told me I could tie up to them. I was running everywhere on the boat trying switch on everything. When I came out, there was someone trying to pull up the anchor. I did not even have time to tell him to get off my boat, especially since we were dragging. I finished pulling back up the anchor and he fastened the line to his boat. Any sailor in the world would have done the same thing, and it happened so fast that I did not think what is specified in the rules Maybe the captain of the Professor Khromov can testify but I'm not sure he would bring any new elements."

Plant precedent

Bernard Stamm is disqualified under the fundamental 'no outside assistance' rule of the Vendée Globe. He is the first skipper in the race to be disqualified by a jury decision. His honesty and candour in his submission echo that of the case of American skipper, the late Mike Plant, who – ironically – set a strong precedent in 1989.

After his rigging was damaged Plant sailed 36 hours to try and anchor at Campbell Island, New Zealand. A storm threatened to put his boat on to the rocky beach there. Four meteorologists witnessed his plight, launched their inflatable boat and Plant accepted a tow in order to save his boat. He was well aware that outside assistance would nullify his race.

Marlin Bree's book, Broken Seas, recalls:
The meteorologists suggested to Mike that he simply continue the race. They vowed eternal silence. No one would know.

"Except I would," Mike answered.

Mike radioed the race committee that he had accepted outside help and that he would continue the race, though disqualified.

Support

Popular support for Stamm in the media and on the internet has been widespread. British skipper Mike Golding summed up his opinion from his nav station on Gamesa:
"I think he would get a particularly warm welcome back in Les Sables d'Olonne. The race, for the leader, is about being the leader, but for the boats that are further back, including myself, the race is about the atmosphere at the start, the atmosphere at the finish and the amazing adventure you have in between. The rankings, the classement, it is something you follow, it keeps you driving on and keeps you pushing your boat and keeps you trying to catch the boats in front and stay away from the boats behind, but it is not the only driver to doing the Vendée Globe. I think the reception Bernard gets as he goes up the canal in Les Sables d'Olonne, will be, and should be, equal and perhaps greater than the boats around him. Bernard is a very popular skipper, and rightly so, he is a lovely guy, and he has worked extraordinarily hard on this project, and I think everyone in this race, and everyone of his followers and the followers of the race will be really upset by the prospect of a seemingly heartless jury, making a decision that perhaps they had to make."

Leaders slowed

From the stress of the Pacific and the challenges of their Cape Horn rounding last night in difficult visibility with ice threatening their route, Vendée Globe leaders François Gabart and Armel Le Cléac'h rolled to the next extreme, the first challenge of the Atlantic when they were stalled today by very light winds as they try to break east from Tierra del Fuego towards the Falkland Islands.

Their temporary slow down may have enhanced their shared feeling of relief. Gabart, speaking on Vendée Globe LIVE for the first time since he lead his first Vendée Globe around Cape Horn, sounded more relaxed but clearly delighted that one of his dream scenarios had come true:
"In some ways it is only symbolic but I'm still very glad I took the lead, it makes me very happy. The first time round Cape Horn it's bound to feel like something big, I hope that the next will be just as strong. We saw some great times in the Southern Ocean but it is also difficult to get out. And so it is a good thing when you do." Summed up Gabart.

The solo skippers of Macif and Banque Populaire struggled to make double digit boat speeds for much of today, though the punchy Gabart managed to squeeze east slightly quicker, extending his lead to 33 miles over Le Cléac'h. Though Gabart bettered by 4 days 8 hours and 50 minutes the elapsed passage time record from Les Sables d'Olonne to Cape Horn, lowering the mark to 52 days 6 hours 18 minutes, Mike Golding's 2004 record from Cape Leeuwin to Cape Horn set in 2004-2005 remains intact. Gabart's time from Cape to Cape was 17 days 18 hours 35 minutes, compared with Golding's 16 days 6 hours 26 minutes in 2005.

The next few days in the South Atlantic look set to be complicated for the leaders, dealing first with the high but then sailing initially upwind on the first low pressure system to break away from the South American coast.

Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac-Paprec 3) is expected at Cape Horn during the early hours of Thursday morning, compressing steadily on the leaders today. Dick will have more breeze at Cape Horn than the leaders but may have the chance to gain more miles after the Le Maire Straits if he is offered the more direct route north which current weather modeling suggests.

Thomson's first solo Cape Horn

Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) seems blessed with the most favourable trajectory in to Cape Horn, expecting to arrive around 0600hrs UTC on Friday morning, but passing during the hours of darkness with so much ice around, gives Thomson some concern:
"...this isn't ideal timing as it will be the middle of the night for me so will be dark which is a little concerning given the current warnings of reported ice in the area. I am very much looking forward to getting around though and out of the Southern Ocean and heading North again - especially as this will be my first solo rounding."

Leaderboard at 4pm: (top five, French Time)

1 - François Gabart [Macif] 6 803 miles to the finish
2 - Armel Le Cleac'h [Banque Populaire] + 33 miles to leader
3 - Jean-Pierre Dick [Virbac Paprec 3] + 382.8 miles to leader
4 - Alex Thomson [Hugo Boss] + 797.3 miles to leader
5 - Jean Le Cam [SynerCiel] + 2 013.7 miles to leader

Full rankings can be found here

Bernard Stamm, SUI, Cheminées Poujoulat
The Russian ship Professor Khromov arrived late in the night, when I was already at anchor. I saw her by chance at daybreak; but the visibility was low. Fairly quickly my anchor began to move and there was a risk of a collision. Everything happened very quickly, I couldn't think about the rules. I thought that the ship was effectively a dead object. So for me, I was right to did what I did. If I had to change my plan it would have been to have to sailing away from my place with no electricity. That would have been nonsense.

Mike Golding, GBR, Gamesa
I think I can see the thinking behind the decision. The rules are the rules and all that. But I think when you know all the story about Bernard and you know the situation he is in now, facing a good chunk of South Pacific to sail across and then icebergs at Cape Horn and the problems he still has, I think it just doesn't feel right. It doesn't feel like the right thing. But as I say, the rules are clear and unfortunately, based on the information I've got, it sounds like the rules were inadvertently, and I think I make that point, inadvertently breached. I am not sure about it at all, it doesn't feel right to me and I really... I am very, very sad for Bernard and I hope he can get an appeal together and stay in the race." "I think the reception Bernard gets as he goes up the canal in Les Sables d'Olonne, will be, and should be, equal and perhaps greater than the boats around him. Bernard is a very popular skipper, and rightly so, he is a lovely guy, and he has worked extraordinarily hard on this project, and I think everyone in this race, and everyone of his followers and the followers of the race will be really upset by the prospect of a seemingly heartless jury, making a decision that perhaps they had to make.

François Gabart, FRA, MACIF
It's going great, I'm glad to have got into the Atlantic after passing Cape Horn. It is symbolic but I'm very glad I took the lead, that means pure happiness. The first time it's bound to feel big and special, I hope that the next will be just as strong. We had some great times in the Southern Ocean but it is also difficult to round Cape Horn, and so it all good when it stops. Today the wind has calmed down, there is a little sun, it is not unpleasant to be in these conditions. After Cape Horn, it was amazing to see the change of atmosphere in just a few minutes. The sea is flat now.
I had not seen a single piece of land from Cape Finisterre. I went to 2.5 miles from Cape Horn and although at first I did not see it at all, I finally see a piece of land at the bow, when night fell. The hardest thing was just next to New Zealand, to Auckland Islands. Finally Cape Horn is the issue, it's the end of it. It is true that the conditions were quite mild yesterday - 48 hours in a big high pressure ahead. But this is like half time in rugby, because there are still about a month left.

Jean-Pierre Dick, FRA, Virbac-Paprec 3
Bernard Stamm has committed an infraction of the rules. I can understand he can be penalized for it, but not like that. Disqualification is really strong. It's unbelievable! It was case of "force majeure", Bernard acted as a good sailor to keep his boat secure. Our projects require significant involvement, hard work from the sailor, the teams and the sponsors. Bernard is fighting every day against the elements. I think it will be fairer if he remains in the race with a penalty. I want the jury to reconsider its decision.

Update from Mike Golding, Gamesa:

How are things onboard Gamesa just now?

Pretty bumpy and we are getting squalls through of up to 30 knots. We are generally making pretty good progress and are also not too far away from pointing at the mark, so making reasonable progress down the track.

Give us a general picture of how the weather is now and down the track? It looks like you are getting some more wind?

Yes, we are sailing into a depression and then another one comes in behind so, we have a succession of little depressions which are heading south east and they give us a boost along towards the next gate. In this particular area the sea state isn't very pleasant because the systems are going diagonally across so consequently we have a nasty cross sea which makes it hard to run at full speed. It means that you occasionally get a pretty big slam. At the same time, it is nice to be making good progress down the track.

You could see quite a lot of wind in these lows?

Certainly up to 35-40 knots is possible, so it depends which model you look at, of course. But right now it is pretty much fitting in with the EC model.

And relative to the boats in front and behind? Is this going to be good for you?

I think so, yes. It is a reasonably direct route to the gate, it seems like I am going to get listed and at the moment it seems to be doing what the file says it is doing. Certainly for the last few polls, I have been in stronger pressure, which is partly down to the big dial down I did away from the gate, which was kind of forced, but it got me in first to the boats behind who are just slightly down on windspeed. As a consequence, I am making some small gains and maybe even a small gain ahead with Jean.

Is there anything you have to do in terms to repairs on the boat or small jobs, or is everything pretty good just now?

Unfortunately, my radar has decided to play up and I can't work out why. I went up the rig yesterday and took the radar scanner off and checked the plugs and put them across everything I did, but it is a bit more difficult to do anything more than that, but everything else seems to be working. But not having a radar at this point is not ideal, and gives me a lot of concern approaching Cape Horn and with all the ice that is present. So that is my priority, but to be fair, there isn't much more that I can do. It is a complicated device. I have checked all the things I can check, or that I can repair, so my team are working on seeing if there is anything else I can do to keep that working.

Other than that, no, everything else is ok and the boat is in good shape.

Any aches and pains coming to bear, or are you in good shape?

Yes, very good shape. Everything is good, it is very cold at the moment, very cold. You are looking at the GPS and anything south of east is bad and anything north of east is good! So, at the moment, we are still trucking south quite fast, so probably expect to get colder with the increased wind, that is going to make it very very cold and uncomfortable onboard.

And Mike none of us aren't getting any younger, do you feel the cold more than you did ten years ago?

I think that is almost certainly true! I had a back injury which actually occurred during the first Vendée in 2000 and ended up with me having spinal surgery and when it gets cold like this, I tell you, it is not very nice. So I have had some back pains, but I am OK, I have learnt to manage it, I've had advice from the Doctor. Generally, in terms of the workload and the fatigue, I am sure I am more susceptible being four years older than the last edition. I am doing ok, I feel alright and I am surrounded by two 50 pluses either side of me, so we have a 50 plus race going on!

You have lots of tea and coffee left?

Not so much coffee. I am having to reduce back on the coffee and have more tea. You drink an enormous amount of teas and coffees because your sleep cycle is so broken up you end up having at least one or two coffees each time you are awake. And you are awake and asleep many many times a day so, as a consequence you go through absolutely huge quantities of both.

There are other consequences, you have to then relieve yourself in the bilges?!

[laughs] Not quite that bad, but if it is too freezing outside, as long as there is plenty of water across the boat, you can just pee in the cockpit!