Jean-Luc Van Den Heede first into the Pacific
Jean-Luc VDH’s Rustler 36 MATMUT seemingly effortless passage across the South Indian Ocean. Image: Jean-Luc Van Den Heede
Jean-Luc Van Den Heede continues to extend his lead over the 7 remaining Golden Globe Race yachts now stretched across 4,800 miles of the Southern Ocean. This last weekend saw the 73 year old Frenchman follow in the wake of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s yacht Suhaili 50 years ago by cutting inside Stewart Island on the southern tip of New Zealand to navigate through the treacherous Fouveaux Straight at night.
The short cut has gained him a further day advantage over second placed Dutchman Mark Slats (Rustler 36 Ophen Maverick) who is now some 2,000 miles astern, and not expected to reach the BoatShed.com Hobart film gate before 22 October.
Jean-Luc – self portrait during voyage to Hobart film gate. Image: Jean-Luc Van Den Heede
However, Mark Slats alerted Race HQ that his yacht had just suffered two knock-downs in quick succession and that he had been hit by a toolbox flying across the cabin which may have resulted in him sustaining a cracked rib.
The tough Dutchman was not too concerned about the injury, but more about the sudden change in conditions. He reported that the winds had suddenly picked up to 30-35knots and that a 3 metre southerly swell was hitting Ophen Maverick on the beam.
News from India is that Abhilash Tomy, who underwent major back surgery last Thursday following his rescue in the Southern Ocean, is expected to make a full recovery. Capt. Sharma visited him in the INHS Kalyani Naval Hospital and tweeted “This naval legend now has a back of steel. The docs are totally floored by his sense of humour”
Gregor McGuckin who was dismasted in the same storm also made the news on his return to Ireland. Recalling his ordeal aboard his yacht Hanley Energy Endurance which suffered three knock-downs in quick succession, he admitted: “We were in the worst possible place to be in at the worst possible time. The seas were huge – 15 metres high and the biggest problem I had was keeping the boat facing downwind and not slewing round to be beam-on.”
Third placed Estonian Uku Randmaa (Rustler 36 One and All) caught a good measure of fresh water but expressed concern that Britain’s Susie Goodall sailing her Rustler 36 DHL Starlight has been making up ground on his position. Susie, who has been worried about dwindling water stocks in recent weeks, got more than she bargained for after leaving one of her deck hatches open during a downpour. “I got more water in the boat than at any time during the race and now everything is wet.”
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