Paris (AFP)
Franco-German sailor Isabelle Joschke, who has been in the top 10 of the Vendée Globe for several weeks, noted on Sunday a major damage to the boat's keel, a huge handicap but which did not prevent her from continuing her tour of the world.
Joschke's monohull (MACSF) is damaged by the loss of the hydraulic cylinder placed on the keel, race management said on Monday.
"Now deprived of the pendulum system that allowed her to tip her keel in the wind, the Franco-German sailor will continue her round-the-world trip with a less powerful boat," said the organization.
Joschke, who was in eighth place on Saturday to descend to tenth position on Monday morning, is approaching the third and last legendary course of the round the world, Cape Horn.
The sailor has already suffered other incidents in recent days.
"I lost my plane 48 hours ago. The autopilot could no longer navigate in wind mode. Then in the night from Saturday to Sunday, I tore my gennaker (a sail, Editor's note)," said Isabelle Joschke.
"With all these adventures, I had not slept and I was exhausted. So I went to rest and after half an hour, I heard the creaking of the keel which gradually let go", a- she continued, indicating that the damage was not repairable.
“The swinging keel is both a driving force behind the boat's stability and speed. It's much worse than losing a sail or even breaking both foils. In terms of loss of potential, it's colossal. ", she lamented, saying" inconsolable ".
Joschke, who is taking part in her first Vendée Globe, admitted that she "needs to mourn (her) race".
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