Vendee
Stamm Out
Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat), who was in 12th place in the Vendee Globe, has just reported damage to his rudder stock bearings which he does not think he can fix at sea given the conditions.
He has just told the radio vacations that the rudder stock bearings are crushed and broken and the lower gudgeon attachment is not well fixed in place. He is under reduced sail. Cannot see any way to repair. He is still considering his options, but cannot imagine a solution. He told the radio vacations that it happened suddenly. A few days ago it started making a noise. Yesterday he lifted rudder out and saw it had gotent much worse.
