(January 12, 2025; Day 64) – Éric Bellion, the French skipper of STAND AS ONE – Altavia, has withdrawn from the Vendée Globe. The pin system holding the J2 forestay has given way again, a situation which in time could lead to the loss of the mast.
Diverted to the east of the Falkland Islands (South Atlantic), the prevailing weather systems there made repairs at sea impossible and under threat of stormy conditions, Bellion made the prudent decision to dock in the Falklands. He arrived this morning at 0100hrs in Port Stanley where he managed to moor after a perilous maneuver.
“I was very afraid of losing my boat,” shared Bellion. “If we had arrived 10 minutes later it would have run aground. The boat is safe and that’s all that matters.”
This was his second Vendée Globe, finishing ninth in the 2016-17 race. Due to the configuration of this remote island archipelago, which he knows well having already stopped there 20 years ago, did not allow him to bring his boat to safety without calling on outside help.
After he had rounded Cape Horn on Thursday (Jan. 9) and started his ascent of the Atlantic, Bellion contacted his shore team yesterday at 0833hrs UTC to announce that the repair he made a few days earlier (the forestay attachment of J2 – headsail) had given way and that he was diverting towards the Falkland Islands to take shelter in light of a forecast of north-westerly wind forecast at 40 knots with gusts of 50 knots.
After 14 hours of sailing, approaching Port Stanley (East Falkland) and Bellion’s experience and seamanship determined that he did not consider it reasonable to attempt this repair alone without then having the possibility of testing its effectiveness and reliability.
However, he still wants to sail his boat single-handed to Les Sables d’Olonne once it is reliable. Two people from his team should arrive on site tomorrow.
“While I was sailing due north in strong winds close-hauled to avoid the Falklands, I discovered that my repair had given way,” he explained. “Fortunately I was able to lower it and I had secured the mast with a forward cable, so I did not lose the mast. The objective was then to find an area under the lee of the Falklands to be able to repair.
“But while I was sailing along the North coast of the Falklands, I understood that I could not make a lasting repair without modifying a part that I did not have on board. Given the weather situation in the area, I quickly realized that if I wanted to take shelter in this archipelago (which is rather flat and difficult to access in IMOCAs), I would need assistance. I didn’t want to take any risks for the boat.
Making the decision to stop was horrible. I am so disappointed after all this effort, my goal was to fight, to give my all to move up the rankings. That’s how it was supposed to be written.
“I now have to wait for the two people from my team to arrive on Monday (tomorrow) with the part, which we repair as quickly as possible so that I can set off again serenely, alone. We are going to finish this round the world trip, a new adventure is about to begin and the story will be beautiful too.
“It was very hard last night with the arrival in the Falklands, at night, with a wind of more than 35 knots and big gusts, one of the most rock and roll maneuvers of my life as a sailor.
“All my instincts told me that I was heading straight into a trap, I was very afraid of losing my boat. It was a high-risk maneuver to moor at the pontoon. Ten minutes later, the wind came in at over 50 knots, ten minutes later I think the boat would have ran aground. We were very lucky.
“I am on land… I walked on land for the first time, all these things that I had fantasized about doing back in Les Sables d’Olonne and that I am finally doing here in the Falklands. It’s not like how I had imagined things to be but that’s how it is. I am very grateful for this chance that was given to the boat and to me and I will try to use it to the maximum to finish this adventure in style.
“We are sheltered, the boat is safe, no one is injured. I was able to count on extraordinary people here, thank you very much for this support. Now we will let the storm pass, we will repair and we will leave again. We dry our tears and we build a new adventure.”
Race updates – Tracker – Ranking – Facebook
Attrition:
Nov. 15: Maxime Sorel (FRA), V and B – Monbana – Mayenne, ankle injury, mast damage
Dec. 4: Louis Burton (FRA), Bureau Vallée, rigging failure
Dec. 15: Pip Hare (GBR), Medallia, dismasted
Dec. 16: Szabolcs Weöres (HUN), New Europe, broken D2 shroud
Dec. 30: Yannick Bestaven (FRA), Maître CoQ V, steerage damage
Jan. 12: Éric Bellion (FRA), STAND AS ONE – Altavia, broken J2 forestay pin
The Vendée Globe, raced in the 60-foot IMOCA, is the elite race round the world, solo, non-stop, and without assistance. On November 10, 40 skippers started the 2024-25 edition which begins and ends in Les Sables d’Olonne, France.
Armel Le Cléac’h, winning in 2017, holds the record for the 24,300 nm course of 74 days 03 hours 35 minutes 46 seconds. Only one sailor has won it twice: Michel Desjoyeaux in 2001 and 2009. This is tenth running of the race.
Source: VG2024, SSN-https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2025/01/12/eric-bellion-out-from-vendee-globe/
