Two months after setting sail from Les Sables d'Olonne, Roland Jourdain is currently in second place and was 178 miles from Michel Desjoyeaux. Roland Jourdain's Veolia Environnement team have just reported that he believes he hit a sea mammal early yesterday evening while racing some 800 miles off the Argentine coast.
The collision with this mammal led to several cracks which forced Roland Jourdain to continue under reduced sail in order to effect repairs at sea.
After inspecting his boat, the keel and bulb do not seem to have been affected, but he found several cracks around the keel box and in the compartment at the foot of the mast bulkhead. Roland Jourdain informed his shore team and the Vende Globe Race Directors this afternoon at 16h30.
After talks with the Lombard design team and the CDK yard, Jourdain assesed the situation and set about making repairs, which he is currently setting up with the materials he has on board under reduced sail. The smooth sea and the light winds in the high are offering favourable conditions.
