Vendée Globe, Le Cam sano e salvo a bordo di PRB che ha riportato danni

[singlepic=1294,170,250,,left]Vendée Globe – Oceano Pacifico – Si è conclusa poche ore fa l’evacuazione di Vm Materiaux. Jean Le Cam, rimasto bloccato per oltre dodici ore all’interno del suo IMOCA 60 ribaltatosi in seguito alla perdita del bulbo, è stato tratto in salvo da Vincent Riou che, nel corso della manovra, ha danneggiato seriamente l’albero di PRB.

Alle 18.10 GMT di oggi, il Direttore di Gara ha parlato con Riou che ha raccontato: “Dopo aver indossato la tuta di sopravvivenza, Jean Le Cam è uscito da VM Materiaux ed è rimasto abbracciato a uno dei timoni per quindici minuti. Ho girato più volte attorno alla barca, tentando di lanciargli una cima. Dopo tre lanci a vuoto ho deciso di avvicinarmi ancor di più. Proprio mentre la cima lo raggiungeva e io l’assicuravo sul winch, gli outrigger di sinistra hanno toccato il bulbo di VM Materiaux e l’albero si è danneggiato seriamente: l’ho visto inclinarsi di 30° e ho creduto cadesse. Appena a bordo Jean mi ha detto di strambare in modo di mettere in tensione le sartie di sottovento: così facendo abbiamo salvato l’armo. Ora stiamo navigando lentamente, mure a dritta per 110°, con tre mani nella randa e nessuna vela a prua”.

In zona, oltre alla petroliera Sonagol Kassanje, accanto a VM Materiaux dalle prime ore di questa mattina, era arrivato anche Armel Le Cléac’h che dopo aver assistito PRB lo ha seguito per alcune ore, mentre Riou e Le Cam tentavano di mettere in sicurezza l’albero.

“E’ una storia incredibile, con un lieto fine” ha commentato Alain Gautier, responsabile della sicurezza della Vendée Globe.

Pochi minuti dopo il recupero di Jean Le Cam, la Marina cilena ha dichiarato cessata l’emergenza. L’elicottero di appoggio è stato fatto rientrare alla bas, così come il rimorchiatore d’altura che stava recandosi in zona con una squadra di sommozzatori. La petroliera, rimasta a lungo in zona, ha potuto riprendere la sua rotta.

Day 58, 20.00 GMT, ranking
1 – Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) DTF 6590.5 nm
2 – Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) +102.0 nm
3 – Vincent Riou (PRB) +641.4 nm
4 – Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) +641.8 nm
5 – Samantha Davies (Roxy) +1858.8 nm

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[flashvideo filename=video/oceano/VMMateriaux_060109.flv /]
Video courtesy Vendée Globe.

LE CAM SAFE ON BOARD PRB
[Vendée Globe Press Release] This evening a full-scale rescue operation was in place to retrieve Jean Le Cam from the upturned hull of VM Matériaux – a Chilean Navy tug boat equipped with divers was on its way, a helicopter had been deployed and the tanker Sonangol Kassanje was standing by — but in the end it was Vincent Riou who successfully recovered fellow skipper and friend Le Cam.

At 18.10 GMT the Race Directors spoke to Vincent Riou, who reported that Jean Le Cam had climbed out of VM Matériaux wearing his survival suit. Vincent Riou circled repeatedly to retrieve the skipper from the water, and on the fourth attempt he successfully rescued Le Cam on board PRB.

However, on his final approach alongside the inverted VM Matériaux, the end of PRB’s port outrigger was damaged against the upturned keel fin. Le Cam was able to scramble aboard soon after and appears to be unhurt, as Riou reported that both skippers worked on deck to stabilize PRB’s mast. They are now sailing slowly, on starboard tack, on a heading of 110 with three reefs in the main and no headsail.

Armel Le Cléac’h on Brit Air, who was also standing by to assist in the rescue, is now following PRB as they investigate repairs to the rig.

“It’s an incredible story that has a happy end,” said Alain Gautier, the Vendée Globe safety consultant.

The rescue operation by the Chilean Navy has been called off — the helicopter has turned around, as has the Chilean tug, which was set to reach VM Matériaux on Wednesday morning. The oil tanker which has been standing alongside since this morning can also now move off.

Vincent Riou (PRB)
Jean Le Cam is doing fine, after what was probably a most difficult experience. A few hours ago the rescue wasn’t certain. Le Cam’s boat partly filled with water, so he was in the bow. Riou waited with Armel throughout the day to make sure they were there when he came out. They couldn’t contact him. On one sail past he noticed the hatch was broken open and Jean was out. Riou threw Le Cam a rope three times but he couldn’t catch it.
Jean had to hang onto the rudder for 15 mins. Riou wasn’t sure whether Armel could help at that moment and so that’s why he moved closer. After failing three times he was feeling desperate. On the fourth attempt Vincent moved closer and damaged his own boat, but was determined to pick up Jean. Jean wrapped the rope around himself and Vincent pulled him in on the winch.
Riou thought his boat was dismasted as the mast was at a 30° angle, but Jean said they could save the mast by gybing and the shrouds went tight again. If PRB had been dismasted they would have been in another difficult situation, so they had to do something quickly.

Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air)
It’s a great relief, it’s been a highly emotional time. The main thing is that it has ended happily except for the damage to PRB. Armel arrived an hour after Vincent, who told him that he’d been in contact with Jean. They agreed to take it in turns to circle the boat. Vincent took over and Armel was busy working on his engine. When he returned he saw PRB‘s rig over at an angle and broken outriggers — didn’t understand it at first and wondered what had happened. Then great relief when he found out Jean was on board PRB, so a wide range of emotions. Has followed them for an hour but now PRB is sailing under reduced sail, so 10 minutes ago he got back on course to head for the Horn. Is not really concentrating on the race for the moment — needs to eat. Will also have lost his faithful companion, but hopes Vincent will be able to sail back to Les Sables — he deserves that.

Day 58, 20.00 GMT, ranking
1 – Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) DTF 6590.5 nm
2 – Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) +102.0 nm
3 – Vincent Riou (PRB) +641.4 nm
4 – Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) +641.8 nm
5 – Samantha Davies (Roxy) +1858.8 nm

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