If the entire fleet has had a rather peaceful start to the Vendée Globe since Sunday, Maxime Sorel (VandB-Monbana-Mayenne) has already found himself in a bit of trouble. “We prepared too well to have shit like that. This is not possible”: this is how he expressed himself in tears in a video sent this Wednesday.
The skipper had not imagined experiencing such eventful first days for his second Vendée Globe. The unfortunate Sorel has had a series of technical problems since the start on Sunday. It started with a gennaker problem that was quickly resolved, then a problem with the mainsail hook. Having become recalcitrant, the said hook no longer allows the latter to be hoisted normally.
To make matters worse, while wanting to repair things, Maxime injured his ankle on Tuesday. Since then, he is still struggling in search of a solution. The Cancalais decided to take shelter in Madeira in order to climb the mast and begin repairs.
“I tell myself that I will find the right solutions”
“I tried this morning (Wednesday) to lower the mainsail but it remains stuck at reef 3,” he explains. I went up to the mast to find that the hook carriage was broken. The sea state put a lot of strain on my ankle during this climb. My arms were also paralyzed and that didn’t help my ankle injury, which I have been monitoring for 48 hours with the race doctors. I have to face the facts, the hook is broken. So I decided to jibe and head at reduced speed towards Madeira in order to shelter my IMOCA. I will then go back up to the mast and try to lower the mainsail to 100%. I wasn’t expecting such a complicated start to the Vendée Globe but I tell myself that I will find the right solutions. »
