Thomas Ruyant’s Souffle Du Nord (“Breath of the North”) is out of the Vendee Globe, and might not even stay afloat for another day. Words from Thomas as translated in the thread.
I lowered the mainsail. I turned on the engine. I remained a few hours hove to.
The damage at the front of the boat is deteriorating, the hull is opening up, the frames are coming unglued from everywhere.
I am heading to the South of New Zealand. I should be there in 2 days. I am not sure it is going to hold until then.
The good thing is that I am within helicopter range. It is comforting. I just need to push one button for someone to get me. The living quarters are not damaged. With the watertight doors, I can stay protected.
The hit was ultra-violent. I still shivers, just thinking about it… and talking about it.
I was sailing at 17-18 knots. And everything stopped. I think I hit a container. That’s what torn apart the bottom of the hull. The front of the hull exploded. The hull buckled. Luckily I did not lose the mast. It was very, very violent.
I was sleeping in my bean bag. Thank god, I had my head deep into the bean bag. I ended up against the mast bulkhead. I found items against the mast bulkhead that were packed up at the rear of the boat; it flew forward over 10 meters…
A bit stressful. The good thing is that I am not too far from shore. But actually, that is also what could have caused it. I saw several cargos. I think I am on a maritime route between New Zealand and Australia. Knowing the sea conditions, there must be a few containers in the water. I think that’s what I hit, considering the violence of the shock…
Here we are…End of my Vendee Globe…Finished…Half around the world…
I am so sad it ends up this way…I had my lot of hardship… For sure I had a truck load of them…
But this one… this one… Fuck! I really wish this one to nobody…
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