She only had 5853 nautical miles to sail to the finish. Three quarters of the race (21,224 nautical miles) were already behind the Munich-born German-French Isabelle Joschke, who had passed Cape Horn in eleventh place one hour and 34 minutes after Boris Herrmann on 5 January. Two days earlier, her main hydraulic cylinder had broken off at the top of the keel fin. Now the replacement cylinder, with which she had temporarily secured the keel in a vertical position, has also broken. In strong and sometimes gale-force winds of 35 knots and more, the 43-year-old from Lorient no longer saw any possibility of continuing her Vendée Globe premiere on the evening of 10 January due to the dangerous condition of her Imoca yacht "MACSF". Isabelle Joschke and her shore crew were in close contact on Sunday night in search of solutions, and the race organisers were also keeping a constant eye on her, as the free-swinging keel of the "MACSF" could endanger the safety of both skipper and boat.
The renewed break meant a knockout blow for Joschke. Just that morning, she had reviewed the stresses and strains of the past few days and weeks, described her current challenging situation and still sounded hopeful. In retrospect, however, the words she formulated just a few hours before the end - excerpted here - seem like a prophecy:
I didn't sleep well last night. I must have slept for about two hours. Considering the increasing wind, that's really not enough. I've been sailing in rough seas for 24 hours. The boat has been hitting the waves and some kind of low pressure area has overtaken us. So I spent the night reducing the size of my sails and minimising the boat hitting the waves as much as possible. I waited for the wind to shift. None of this is easy when the keel is centred. I need the foil to stabilise the boat. And the foil makes the boat start regularly. So you have to find a compromise, knowing that the keel locked in the middle will penalise you even more in difficult seas. And that's where the sea is really crazy.
Sometimes I wonder whether I will be able to bring the whole boat back. In waves like these, I don't know how I can protect the boat. Even at reduced speed, it still hits the sea. I can hardly believe the brutality of our boats. It's very often like now: as soon as there's a little more swell, the foiler becomes a masochistic thing. Then it's always about both: the discomfort of hammering the boat through the night when you want to sleep. But also the added stress of worrying about how much the boat can take. It gets on your nerves.
Since the first day of the race, I have had at least one damage per day. It's generally the case that in the tough conditions I'm on the verge of damage, which then occurs just as the conditions calm down again. Yesterday morning I touched a UFO in rather pleasant conditions. A piece of my foil broke off in the collision. I have to admit that nothing reassures me any more. I'm doing the best I can.
From hell to heaven - and back
The Cape Horn Passage was magical. I went from hell to heaven in a matter of hours. The days that followed were like redemption. The conditions were good and it's true that I was lucky because, although I was still sailing quite far south, the temperatures rose quickly. It's also a relief because I was suffering a lot in the cold. Now it's no longer a real question: I get dressed, but I'm no longer worried about freezing at night or in the morning. It feels really good.
Immediately after Cape Horn, I realised that my physical strength had suddenly increased. I really liked that. I wondered whether there was a connection between the cold and the loss of strength and energy. I suppose there is. Even though I have to admit that I didn't have much of it left after the (last) night.
I have the feeling that diving into the Atlantic is associated with a renewal of motivation. And the start of a new phase. I think something new is happening. That's great, but at the same time there's still this constant Vendée Globe, which is tough on us with its conditions and breakdowns. The low pressure area sweeping over us feels a bit like a farewell from the Southern Ocean, it's typical of the fifties with its fickle winds and weather data that doesn't allow for accurate predictions. I'm going to spend another 24 to 48 slightly complicated hours and keep my fingers crossed that I'll get a new weather window after that."
Clarisse Crémer takes over the "baton"
All the crossing of fingers, her great struggle, the never-ending repair efforts and her will have not been able to help Isabelle Joschke, for whom the 63rd day at sea became the day of her task, because the main thing now is to secure herself and the boat. Clarisse Crémer will take over the baton from the best woman in the field of the remaining 26 boats in recent weeks. The "Banque Populaire X" skipper was overtaken by Armel Tripon ("L'Occitane en Provence") on Saturday evening and was in 12th place.
There was better news than from Isabelle Joschke the day before from the equally spirited and successful British skipper Pip Hare, who managed to change her rudder in difficult conditions while still on course for Cape Horn. In 17th place, the "Medallia" skipper then kept Jérémie Beyou, who was coming on strongly, at bay for the time being. Among many others, competitor Arnaud Boissières also paid her a big compliment for her brilliant technical performance at sea: "I admire what Pip Hare has achieved, the way she sails and the fact that she changed her rudder. I have no idea how she did it because it was rough, the conditions were very rough. I think she's a bloody good girl. She's pragmatic and humble. She's great."
Boris Herrmann "on the hunt"
Boris Herrmann has also been doing increasingly well since his Cape Horn low. The "Seaexplorer - Yacht Club de Monaco" skipper has made up three places since then and, according to his weather expert Will Harris, is "in the hunt". Late on Saturday evening, the first German Vendée Globe skipper in eighth place was only 27 nautical miles behind Benjamin Dutreux in sixth place. Herrmann, who had dropped back from third place to eleventh shortly after the legendary landmark between Christmas and his difficult Cape Horn passage on 5 January, which was overshadowed by a mainsail tear, is now back on the attack. The 39-year-old said: "I still have a score to settle with this race. My official goal is now fifth place. That's very ambitious and doesn't have to be the case, but it can still work out." The field is still led by Yannick Bestaven on "Maître Coq IV". Just under 180 nautical miles behind him on the 63rd day at sea, "Apivia" skipper Charlie Dalin was 70 nautical miles ahead of his compatriot in a duel with Thomas Ruyant ("LinkedOut").
Boris Herrmann's team mate Will Harris explains the weather situation that the Imoca skippers will have to deal with on the 62nd day at sea and in the near future.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
