Vendee Globe 2000 - Through the Canary Islands Gateway

ELLEN MACARTHUR (KINGFISHER) THIRD AT THE CANARY ISLANDS' GATEWAY PASSING 20 MINUTES AHEAD OF MARC THIERCELIN

We are able to confirm the top rankings at the first obligatory waypoint of the Vendée Globe 2000 for the 22 international skippers currently in this 2500 mile solo, non stop, around the world race.

Michel Desjoyeaux (PRB) won the gybing battle in the strong but shifting 15 - 20 knot Northeasterly winds to become the race's new leader as he was the first boat to cross through this invisible rectangle situated just North of Gran Canaria. He was followed by the de-throned Yves Parlier (Aquitaine Innovations) some 2 and a half hours later. Despite damaging her Code 5 badly in an unexpected gust, British competitor, and the youngest skipper in the course, Ellen MacArthur (Kingfisher) managed to pull ahead and cross the gateway in third place just 20 minutes ahead of veteran Vendée Globe skipper Marc Thiercelin (Active Wear).

Michel Desjoyeaux (PRB) commented in an earlier interview with his communications team after hearing of his new leading position: "Of course I know that the Vendée Globe has only really just begun, it's an endurance race we're on. I am happy that my tactical choices have given me such a good ranking, and it only encourages me and gives me confidence in my boat." Ellen MacArthur (Kingfisher) wasn't so happy to be approaching this way point at night, when the winds tend to ease off. "The Trade Winds are not well established at all at present, which is going to make the next few days pretty tough, hunting the breeze," she confided in an earlier email. As Bernard Stamm put it so succinctly today: "this 'little regatta' in the Atlantic will soon give way to the big adventure in the South."

When the boats cross through the Canary Islands, before heading down towards the notorious Doldrums, they will offload onto RIB's cassettes of video footage taken on board in this first 6 days of the race.

A second group of 4 boats are coming up to the waypoint and we shall update the official website with all the timings when they happen.

Ranking at the Gran Canaria gateway (UT):

1 Michel Desjoyeaux PRB                   at 13h36 UT 
2 Yves Parlier      AQUITAINE INNOVATIONS at 16h15 UT 
3 Ellen MacArthur   KINGFISHER            at 16h50 UT 
4 Marc Thiercelin   ACTIVE WEAR           at 17h10 UT

More Information:

• YachtsandYachting.com Vendee Globe Page

Latest News from Ellen and Kingfisher:

• Belgium skipper, Patrick de Radigues out of race after being knocked unconcsious during a gybe, and boat sailing under pilot on to Portuguese beach. Vendee dream is shattered, but he is safe and ok.
• MichDesj (PRB) wrestles lead from Parlier in battle for the lead as they close the Gran Canaria gate
• Disaster strikes for Ellen as evening set in, a broach, wipe-out, sheet breaks, sail destroyed.
• At sunrise, still finds herself just one mile astern of Marc Thiercelin, in view, with 80 miles to go to the gate, and in 4th place. Sodebo closing the gap further.
• Wind continues to be variable in strength, one minute you are powering up, the next almost out of control.
• Difficult passage predicted at Gran Canaria, light and variable winds could restart the race

See the full explanation of last night's sail shredding experience on the news pages at www.kingfisherchallenges.com plus a full interview from this morning with Ellen in English and French in our Audio section. Plus the latest images from on the water from Jacques Vapillon - all on the site!

ELLEN DIRECT THIS MORNING:

"Didn't get much sleep during the night since my disaster last night. Aching after the physical exertion, and feeling pretty washed up. So frustrated and annoyed about it, but not sure what I could have done. The gust came in so fast, I was dozing in the cockpit, but I couldn't have got to the sheet any quicker. Relief to see Marc this morning, first boat for a while, and I guess it means I couldn't have lost so many miles, despite my 2 hours of full on battle on the deck to keep the torn Code 5 sail from joining the fish...I really don't know if I can repair it yet. My hands got some rope burn during the action as well. I kept going over and over what happened in mind during the night. The wind continued to be variable during the night, which meant for quite a bit of hand steering through the gusts. Usually you can tell when its coming with the 'gremlin' clouds, but sometimes the puffs come out of nowhere. I'm 80 miles from the waypoint now, but approaching the island at the wrong time of day - the time when we are most likely to get calms, I guess there is not much I can do about that! I'm quite well positioned to the west though I think. The Trade Winds are not well established at all at present, which is going to make the next few days pretty tough, hunting the breeze."

Patrick de Radigués (La Libre Belgique) withdraw

During the night of Tuesday 14th to Wednesday 15th November, Patrick de Radigués, the Belgian skipper of La Libre Belgique, was sailing along the Portuguese coast when he was hurt by the boom of his 50 footer:

"As I was gybing, my foot got hooked in a sheet and I have been violently projected onto the deck. I fainted during several hours. When I was finally woken up by the inshore rescue people, my boat had run aground the beach. The boat is not damaged apart from a broken rudder. I have hurt my head, and I need to go to the hospital to have some stitches. For me, the Vendée Globe is over as I had to call for outside assistance".

The emotion has gone now , and we can only be happy it was not worse as Patrick could have been ejected unconscious in the sea . The accident happened during the night not far off Lisbonne. Patrick de Radiguès will call us back during the day to give us more details.