He had just led the Vendée Globe fleet as a brilliant front runner, but now Alex Thomson has to fight and worry. While Boris Herrmann is getting better and better towards the end of the second week and recently moved up to sixth place, Thomson has already dropped back to third place behind Thomas Ruyant ("LinkedOut") and Charlie Dalin ("Apivia") after discovering structural problems in the bow section.
His team had already informed Thomson of the alarming findings during a routine check on Saturday evening. According to the description, it was delamination in the longitudinal stringers in the bow area. While Thomson himself immediately slowed down his pace and took a nap, the designers and structural experts on land worked through the night and drew up a repair plan for the "Boss". Thomson has been following this plan since early Sunday morning. Thomson's Technical Director Ross Daniels says: "Alex has got all the necessary materials on board and a detailed plan. A team of world-class engineers is advising him. We therefore believe in his ability to carry out this repair successfully." Around 900 nautical miles away from Rio de Janeiro, Thomson lets his "Hugo Boss" drift at a speed of four knots while he carries out the necessary work. The 46-year-old had started his fifth Vendée Globe after two retirements, a second and a third place with declared intentions of winning.
Boris Herrmann is making increasing progress in his first solo circumnavigation of the Vendée Globe: two weeks after the start in the South Atlantic, the 39-year-old from Hamburg moved up to sixth place in the field of 32 boats with his yacht "Seaexplorer - Yacht Club de Monaco". "I'm doing well. And so is my boat. That's the most important thing," reported Herrmann from the sea. On the 14th day at sea, Herrmann makes a balanced impression. His gap to fifth-placed Kevin Escoffier on "PRB" has been reduced to well under 50 nautical miles. It is refreshing to hear him say: "I have found my rhythm."
Boris Herrmann takes stock of his first two Vendée Globe weeks
Isabelle Joschke in the repair marathon
At the same time, "MACSF" skipper Isabelle Joschke has to contend with a whole series of challenges. The German-French skipper, who is in 15th place, around 850 nautical miles behind the leaders, describes the rollercoaster ride through her own personal Vendée Globe world in unvarnished and frank terms:
I've recovered from the drama of the previous night and had a good rest. The sailing conditions are quite calm, which helps me to see things in perspective and makes me feel good at sea. It's pretty cool this morning: the conditions are good for my foils. Medium winds and a smooth sea: the boat has made very little noise in the last 24 hours. It's shaking quite a bit, though, and it's impossible to write or at least type. This speed will continue, which is no bad thing: it means I can steer the fastest course to the finish. I haven't reached the optimum of my speed potential yet, but it's going fast enough and I can recharge my batteries a bit.
There is a list of technical problems that I need to work on. I can't deal with them while the boat is sailing on starboard bow because the area I need to work on is below the area that is constantly covered in spray. The conditions either need to calm down or I need to slow the boat down for the repairs. I'm mainly talking about my pushpit, which needs to be repaired, and the gennaker block, which needs to be sensibly and safely put back in place. I also have a lot of other small annoying breakages.
Technically speaking, repairing the pushpit is a big job. The railing supports are torn out and the fittings on the underside of the deck. The aim is to rebuild the railing and attach it securely to the deck. I liaise intensively with the Shore crew to find simple and robust solutions. The guys know the areas that they have reinforced. If I tried to do it myself, I might be making risky decisions.
The rear basket is important for safety and was a hard blow to my morale. I've had a series of problems and damage since the start of the race. I had to stop the boat several times, which is very hard for any competitor. But the pushpit is also what helps you connect with the boat. It's not the same without it. I need to feel safe before I reach the Southern Ocean. At the moment, I only go into the stern with the lifeline hooked in, which I wouldn't normally need.
Are there any positives? A lot, but at the moment I'm frustrated, annoyed. I don't feel like saying that everything is good when it's not. As a competitor, I'm disappointed and don't want to hide how I feel.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
