Vendee Globe: Antoine Cornic forced to take shelter to effect mast repairs

Antoine Cornic (Human Immobilier) has suffered sail track damage and will seek shelter from the 60kt winds © Antoine Cornic (Human Immobilier)

During the night of December 11 to 12, around 23:00 UTC, Antoine Cornic (Human Immobilier) informed shore team of significant damage to his mainsail track.

While sailing in 60 knots of wind and 8 to 9 meter seas, a gust caused a broach causing damage to his mainsail track, torn off over nearly a meter. The skipper was able to lower the mainsail but it cant be used until he can make a repair.

The skipper is unharmed and the IMOCA Human Immobilier remains in the race, still sailing in heavy seas and 50 knots of wind.

He has decided to divert to the Saint-Paul and Amsterdam Islands, uninhabited islands which are 1,280 km north-northeast of the Kerguelen Islands, to take shelter and be able to carry out repairs in better conditions. He should arrive in about 7 days. Cornic began some preliminary work repairing the track and the cars last night and will look for the best solutions to get going as soon as possible.