Bernard Stamm disqualified
Vendee Globe sailor accused of outside assistance... then suffers further damageIn a decision that has sparked controversy and comment from all over the world, Swiss sailor Bernard Stamm has been disqualified from the Vendee Globe solo around-the-world race.
To attempt to repair his damaged hydro generators, Stamm anchored his yacht Cheminees Poujoulat in a bay in the Auckland Islands south of New Zealand.
Soon after anchoring he noticed that a Russian Scientific ship the Professor Khromov had anchored behind him.
Stamm later found that his anchor was dragging toward the large Russian vessel and he was in danger of colliding with it. He contacted the skipper of the Professor Khromov who suggested he tie his yacht to the larger vessel.
Stamm agreed and went below to start the engine and put on his electronics. On regaining the deck, he noticed that a Russian crew member had boarded his boat and was hauling in the anchor. Cheminees Poujoulat was then tied to the Russian ship and Stamm contacted race control.
The matter was referred to an independent international jury who said that the incident constituted outside assistance and the Swiss sailor was summarily disqualified.
Stamm has appealed the decision and continued sailing toward Cape Horn. He has subsequently hit a UFO (unidentified floating object) and further damaged the generators. At the time of writing he was sailing in 'dark mode' while his shore team tried to work out how to replenish his already-depleted supply of fuel so he can run his electrical systems which critically includes his auto pilot and communications equipment.
This is Bernard Stamm’s third attempt at the Vendee Globe. After retiring with auto pilot problems in 2001-02, he returned in 2008-09 with Cheminees Poujoulat. In a terrible irony, that year he was anchored in the Kerguelen Islands to effect repairs, when his anchor dragged and the boat ended up on the rocks, forcing his retirement.
All other skippers in the race have voiced their concerns saying that the decision is not only harsh but not "in the spirit of the race".
For more information or to follow the Vendee Globe go to www.vendeeglobe.org
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