Jourdain heads for safe haven

As if the Vendee Globe hadn't squeezed the last ounce of drama from this race, there was yet more today when Roland Jourdain discovered that the bulb on the end of Veolia Environnement's keel fin had disappeared.

The last keel bulb to go was that on Jean Le Cam's boat, VM Matériaux, just before it capsized in the Southern Ocean. Jourdain has made his boat as stable as possible and is sailing steadily towards the island of Sao Miguel in the Azores where he will be able to take stock. But with 1,700 miles of ocean still to cross, including the treacherous Bay of Biscay, the risk of capsize may be considered too great.

To retire at this late stage would be heartbreaking but no-one would want to experience the ordeal that befell Le Cam. Jourdain did not know at first just how bad the keel damage was but his shore team later confirmed that the bulb had gone. The support team will be doing their sums, working out whether sufficient ballast can be arranged to keep the boat stable enough at low speeds under limited sail. But it's going to be a tough call.

At least the Azores are on the route. Armel Le Cléach, just a day and a half behind him, will be gaining all the time. But it is not just second place that is looking fragile for Jourdain. He could be facing retirement. As it is he will need to nurse his boat through four days of delicate sailing. One good thing is that the Azores high pressure system should keep him away from heavy wind. The system that sailors normally do their utmost top avoid should allow him to maintain a margin of safety for the time being. But after that? We shall have to wait and see.