There is little time left before the gruelling Vendee Globe round-the-world race is over. Bernard Stamm of Switzerland, despite desperate resistance to the forces of nature and circumstances, leaves the race. After his departure, only 12 competitors are fighting for the victory (recall that 20 boats started on November 10).
Stamm was forced to withdraw from the race due to lack of power on board for several days because of breakdown of the hydro-generator. His boat Cheninees Pojoulat would have been disqualified anyway.
The fact is that, in an attempt to repair the breakdown in calm conditions, Stamm hid in a cove. The boat had to be either luck or misfortune to find a Russian ship in the bay whose crew helped the Swiss dinghy. That's why the judges decided to disqualify the boat (according to the regatta conditions, receiving help from outside is strictly punishable).
Stamp restarted and appealed, but soon afterwards, as a result of a collision with an unknown object, the hydro-generator stopped working again.
Cheninees Pojoulat rounded Cape Horn on Wednesday, January 9, without power on board and reached Ushuaia Bay, where it was able to get oil to restart the generator.
Unfortunately, Stamm has now announced his withdrawal from the race, as he will be disqualified anyway.
The current top three (French, by the way) are Francois Gabart ahead of the rest of the planet, followed by Armel Le Clack, and Jean-Pierre Dique is at the end of the group. It should be noted that our old friend Alex "The Conqueror of the keel" Thomson taking the fourth position is about to overtake the leaders.
