Broken rudder arm slows Dick
Britain’s Mike Golding, sailing his Open 60 Ecover, is heading for the lead in the Vendee Globe, non-stop, solo, round-the-world race. He could be first in the fleet in just over six hours’ time.
He is racing up at 19.9 knots on Jean-Pierre Dick who is now limping at 11 knots following a collision with an unidentified object.
The impact of the collision caused the starboard rudder to kick up. As he tried to get it back in place Dick realised that the connecting arm which joins the two rudders is broken and that the rudder stock is also damaged.
Dick, who has lead the solo round the world race since last Wednesday aboard Paprec-Virbac 2 has slowed and is sailing with just the port rudder down and will need to ride out the storm which had already brought the leaders 35- 40 knot winds this afternoon.
Dick is evaluating his options as to how he might effect a repair.
On the 1500GMT position report Paprec-Virbac 2 was making 11.8 knots.