Golden Globe Leader Suffers Knockdown

Just as we were finishing up this morning’s ‘Lectronic Latitude, we received a “Stop Presses” email from the Golden Globe solo around-the-world race. Jean-Luc Van Den Heede (aka VDH) was leading his seven remaining competitors by more than 2,000 miles when he suffered a knockdown today aboard Matmut. The Rustler 36’s mast suffered damage to the bolt attachment that holds all four lower shrouds. The mast is not in danger of falling. The 73-year-old Frenchman reports 65-knot winds and 36-ft seas, and is now running downwind without sails until he gets out of the storm. His plan is to make for Valparaiso, Chile, where he will repair the boat. He does not want assistance and is confident that he will make Valparaiso safely. But his stopover will move him to the Chichester Class.

VDH’s misfortune will shift the Golden Globe lead to Dutchman Mark Slats, who is also sailing a Rustler 36. Slats has 11,006 miles to go to the finish in Les Sables d’Olonne, France.

The middle-of-the-pack competitors have been sailing through a storm of their own. American/Hungarian skipper Istvan Kopar, sailing the Tradewind 35 Puffin, gave an account of his attempt to reach the mandatory film-drop and checkpoint off Hobart, Tasmania: “I am not happy in my ship, I can tell you!” Kopar sought shelter off South Port Beach before continuing on around Tasmania’s South East Cape. Trying to make landfall during the height of the storm and find a safe anchorage at night was  brutal. “The last four days have taken me to the bottom. I would have been much happier to have been offshore.” He arrived at the Hobart stop without a radio, direction finder or accurate idea of time. “You really don’t know where you are, and it was blowing a minimum of 50 knots. Right now, I’m more attracted to gardening than offshore sailing.”

For more and to follow this grueling 1960s-style adventure, see www.goldengloberace.com.