Isabelle Joschke's IMOCA MACSF launched in Lorient on May 21, 2020. -
Maxime Le Pihif
This is the 7th retirement in the Vendée Globe, out of the 33 sailors entered at the start.
And this time it concerns the Franco-German sailor Isabelle Joschke.
While she occupied the 11th position in the race, the sailor noticed a new damage to the keel of her boat (MACSF), the organizers announced on Saturday.
Saturday afternoon on the IMOCA MACSF, Isabelle Joschke, first woman in the ranking and who sails in the South Atlantic, noted "the breakage of the false keel cylinder installed on January 3 following the loss of the hydraulic cylinder rod, ”the organization said in a statement.
The Franco-German, 776 nautical miles (1,438 km) from leader Yannick Bestaven, was sailing "in difficult conditions near the center of the low coming from Argentina, in 30 to 35 knots of wind and in strong and rough seas" .
The keel of the monohull "remains attached to the boat but the loss of the cylinder causes a slight leak on board", explained her team, specifying that the sailor is "currently safe".
The young woman has lowered her mainsail and is moving under storm alone to stabilize the boat.
"Reach a port as quickly as possible"
“It is obvious that Isabelle can no longer continue this Vendée Globe and will have to retire.
We are in constant contact and are studying the various options with her for the next few days, ”explained Alain Gautier, MACSF team manager.
"Our priority remains, of course, the safety of Isabelle and the whole team is mobilized so that she can reach a port as quickly as possible, with the help of the race organization", added Eric Mollard, the communications director of the MACSF group.
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