Jonny Malbon

Artemis 2 - The way ahead

Jonny has now arrived back in UK for a rest while the AOR 2 is sorted out in Auckland.  Craig sent the following update from Kiwiland last week:

An update from Artemis Ocean Racing Sail Co-ordinator Craig ‘Scottie’ Bowie

23 January 2009

Assessing the extent of the delamination of the mainsail in Auckland

It has been a while now since I wrote a blog, so here we are: An update from Auckland.

This edition of the Vendee Globe has been very, very hard with numerous big depressions that haven’t really given anyone a break - from the leaders right through to the back of the pack. But in a race like this the skippers have to take everything that is thrown at them and from that point of view what a race it has been so far.

At the start I thought there were 10 teams that could win the race. Barring disasters, it looks like ‘The Professor’ Mich Des is going to prevail in what will be a truly incredible achievement. But what we have seen is the newcomers to the Vendee making the headlines. Sam Davies, Marc Guillemot, Armel Le Cleac’h, Dee Caffari and Steve White… the performance of these sailors on diverse but demanding boats has been the real story for me.

The retirement rate across the fleet this time round has been huge and each one is a massive blow to everyone involved - from the shore team to the sponsors, friends and family and of course the skippers themselves. We had to deal with a few major problems which collectively meant that ‘Artemis Ocean Racing II’ had to retire. It was by no means an easy decision but on reflection was undoubtedly the right one to make.

For ‘Artemis Ocean Racing II’ the major issue was the delaminating mainsail. At the same time there was a significant problem with the engine and charging capacity of the boat, which meant charging the batteries up to five times a day (we usually charge twice for two hours a day) and consequently using much more fuel than predicted. Finally there was substantial damage to the daggerboard after hitting a whale in the Atlantic which would have made sailing upwind in the South Atlantic on a port tack very difficult. It took three of us on the dock to get the damaged section of the daggerboard out!!

The issue with the delaminating mainsail was a big shock. Studying the first pictures coming off the boat I thought the problem could be fixed, at a push, but the rate the sail fell apart was staggering. The day after the boat arrived in Auckland we got the main off only to find no laminate at all on the port side.

The sail is constructed like a sandwich, with laminate on one side then Kevlar strands in the middle. There is a spectra taffeta on the inside which gives the sail more stability, less stretch and more importantly it absorbs less water as the material is glued in the middle.

So what’s next? Ten days since the boat got into Auckland and we have almost finished putting her back together. We have taken the engines out and they are set to go back in tomorrow, the first generation main has arrived from England along with a spare daggerboard. We are setting up for two to three weeks of sailing in Auckland, testing the sails, keel systems, board angles, and mast work. It’s a great place to do this kind of work and we are bringing in some extra personnel to help with the sail testing. A couple of hours of sailing from here is the open ocean so we are using this time wisely before we either ship the boat back, or sail it back to the UK to continue testing.

The team has once again upped a gear and brought everything together - both ‘down under’ and back at home, with the help of Allan West (West Composites)in Auckland - huge thanks for making everything happen and making it look easy - Northsails NZ and UK, Southern Spars, Future Fibers, Viaduct Harbour (especially for interrupting the Pacific Cup!!) and our mechanics, they have all been a great help.

Finally, a big thank you as ever to Artemis for all their support.

Speak soon

Scottie

The year ahead for AOR2 involves the Two Handed Transat Jacques Varbre to Costa Rica, the Fastnet and the Calais Round Britain Race in the summer.  Plenty to get the teeth stuck into and teat the boat more comprehensively.

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15 Jan 09 ARTEMIS - The future.

With ARTEMIS safely in Auckland and the team on site, plans are being made to map out the way ahead for the 2009 season.  IMOCA have just announced the events for the year which include the Calais Round Britain Race, a European tour and the doublehanded Transat Jacques Vabre from Le Havre to Costa Rica in September.

Jonny’s latest blog from the ARTEMIS site reads:

 

Jonny and Artemis Ocean Racing II in Auckland 

“After a slow final passage to New Zealand, Jonny and Artemis Ocean Racing II arrived in Auckland early on the morning of Monday 11th January local time.  Jonny was met by the shore team, his girlfriend and a gathering of well-wishers at Viaduct Harbour.
 
The team will now evaluate the boat, repair damage to the mainsail and daggerboard, and return to the UK.
 
Reflecting on his 65 days at sea and the disappointment of cutting short his Vendee dream, Jonny said: 

‘It has been an incredible journey to this point.  I am so disappointed not to be out there with the rest of the fleet still racing.  It is made all the more difficult to have retired due to factors outside my control, but it is certainly the right decision.  We have to take stock of where we are right now and look forward to the forthcoming season.  

‘I have learnt so much over the past weeks, about the boat as well as myself, and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience.  I feel however that it is ‘unfinished business’ and am determined to be back for the 2012 edition.  A hot shower and a few cold beers are now on the cards!!’

The team is now carrying out a detailed debrief and some repairs to the boat looking to optimize her for the forthcoming season.  

Jonny concluded: ‘The level of support has been overwhelming.  I just want to thank everybody that has followed our progress and sent messages of encouragement – it means so much, and makes such a difference.’ “

 

“Unfortunately on board Aviva the 45-50 knot winds with gusts of up to 65 knots, has destroy the mainsail, with strands of material flapping in the strong wind.

“It is still horrendous, reported Dee Caffari. “That is the best way to describe it. The sea state is massive. I have seen a top wind speed of 64 knots, and probably the last seven hours I have seen 50 plus knots, I am OK, the boat is OK but the mainsail did not make it. I am down to four reefs and below that there is not a lot of mainsail left. There is no prospect of repairing it while I still have 50 knots, I can just see streams of material flying in the wind, and I am just thinking this is going to be horrendous. I will be under four reefs for a while and then I will have a look at it and see what I can do when the weather has ‘chilled out’ a little bit.” 

Potentially this could mean that Caffari has to negotiate the Atlantic under four reefs - not pretty. ”

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12 Jan - Jonny arrives in Auckland

After a long and frustrating passage to New Zealand after having to abandon the Vendee Race, Jonny finally arrived in Auckland last night (GMT) and early Monday morning NZ time. Headwinds, sometimes strong and tough sea conditions made fort a slow passage, but time to reflect on the previous 60 days.  Now reunited with the Team, and after a few cold beers, there will be time to evaluate the condition of the boat and to decide on the way ahead, in the short term, and for the coming season.

The ARTEMIS site carried the following blog from Gringo

“Now with only a few miles left to sail, Jonny is on his final approach into Auckland, which will sadly be the resting place for his 2008 Vendee globe dream after 63 days at sea (52 of racing). It is a very emotional time for everyone in the team, not least for Jonny himself. Having got himself into 12th place in the race, he had out-lasted some of the great names in solo ocean racing, only to be let down by something which was totally out of his control, one of the most difficult things to come to terms with: especially as he had looked after the boat so well, encountering relentless boat breaking conditions of the Southern Indian Ocean.

As far as we on Jonny’s shore team are concerned, we are proud of his achievements in this race. He has exceeded all expectations, not just by making it to the start line, but getting this far, and I’m sure you will join us in giving him a big pat on the back, and a warm welcome home!

All being well, we will rendezvous with Artemis at Rangitoto Island at approx 7.30 – 8.00 am local New Zealand time, and have him safely alongside, in Auckland’s famous Viaduct at around 11am (10pm GMT).

From there we will begin the job of debriefing, before we focus on moving forward with the campaign, and next season’s program.

But first we have an evening’s relaxing for him, which I’m sure will involve a nice big steak & chips and a couple of beers!
 

Cheers, Gringo”

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Update from Dee on Aviva, who has the same sails…

…And the same problem, although thankfully not quite as far advanced as Jonny.

The post from Dee’s team at Aviva (formerly Norwich Union btw!) is here, and there are some photos of Jonny’s sail from before Christmas. It doesn’t look very useful.

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Jonny’s Passage to Auckland - 6 Jan 09

Jonny is moving steadily towards Auckland and his team who will arrive there tomorrow from UK.  He is beating up against a steady 20+ knots in awkward seas and finding, not unexpectedly, that the fatigue that has built up over the last 58 days is taking its toll.  At present he is just passing the southern end of North Island.  Seb Josse in the crippled BT is already in Auckland, and Jean Pierre-Dick in VIRBAC is approaching from the east, so there will be much to talk about over a few beers when they all meet up.

Meanwhile there has been drama off the Horn which perhaps puts Jonny’s difficult decision to abandon the race into perspective.  Jean Le Cam capsized early today 200 miles off cape Horn when the bulb of his fin keel dropped off, and is currently still inside the inverted hull awaiting rescue, with BRIT AIR and PRB, a Chilean fishing boat and an oil tanker standing by.  They await a Chilean Naval tug with divers who will assist Jean out of the boat.

The Daily Telegraph reported:

Jean Le Cam still waiting for Vendee rescue
French yachtsman Jean Le Cam was trapped in his upturned yacht and still waiting to be recovered on Tuesday night after strong winds and a perilous sea state delayed the rescue operation.

By Kate Laven
Last Updated: 6:23PM GMT 06 Jan 2009

Photo: GETTY IMAGES

For more than 12 hours, the Vendee Globe race organisers heard nothing from the solo skipper as fears grew that he had perished when his IMOCA 60 VM Materiaux lost its keel bulb and capsized in choppy seas 200 miles from Cape Horn, where confused and stormy waters have over the years claimed hundreds of sailor’s lives.

Two distress beacons were logged back at the Vendee Globe headquarters in Paris which raised hopes that he was still alive but his failure to respond to a foghorn sounded by oil tanker Sanangol Kassagie that had gone to his aid, fuelled their concerns.

A full-scale sea rescue operation including a Chilean rescue plane and cargo ship was launched but it was race rival Vincent Riou, who had been trailing the third-placed Le Cam by 200 miles before being diverted, who was first to get close enough to the stricken yachtsman to make contact.

Le Cam immediately responded to Riou’s calls from inside his upturned yacht indicating that he was alive but for hours after that, there were no signs of movement which continued to cause concern at race headquarters in Paris.

“We are concerned to get him off the boat as quickly as possible because we have no knowledge of his condition. He may well have been injured when the boat capsized,” explained assistant race director Julian Hocken.

“For 12 hours we had no idea whether he was alive or dead so it was a relief when he responded to Vincent but since then he has not been able to communicate at all which causes us some concern because it suggests that he has not been able to access any of food, survival gear or safety kit.”

The water temperature was around five degrees while four metre swells and 25 knots of wind was making a rescue extremely hazardous.

Riou was joined by a second skipper Armel Le Cleach in Brit Air who arrived at the scene half an hour later but a Chilean naval tug carrying a RIB and divers to help get Le Cam out of the boat left Puerto Williams yesterday and was due to reach the area early this morning. Discussions were ongoing as to how the boat could be cut through to recover Le Cam.

This latest disaster leaves the Vendee Globe with just 13 skippers on the race track from an original fleet of 30 boats which left Les Sables d’Olonnes 58 days ago.

They include four British sailors with Sam Davies on Roxy trailing the race leader Michel Desjoyeaux by almost 2000 nms with Brian Thompson’s Bahrain Team Pindar, Dee Caffari’s Aviva and Steve White’s Toe in the Water all heading towards Cape Horn.

Let’s hope that the rescue is soon over.

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Day 56 - Jonny forced to retire from the 2008/9 Vendee Globe

Jonny reluctantly announced to the Vendee HQ that he would have to abandon the Race and make for Auckland after assessing the concerns with his disintegrating mainsail and the possibility of finishing the Vendee Globe.  

The ARTEMIS site reported:

Jonny Malbon, racing onboard Artemis Ocean Racing II in the Vendée Globe - Single-Handed Round the World Yacht Race, today took the hard decision to retire from the event. Until only days ago the British skipper, 34, who was participating in his first Vendée Globe, had been confident of completing the gruelling 24,000 mile circumnavigation. However, Malbon today informed the race organisers that the existing and continuously worsening damage to his mainsail was too severe for him to realistically continue racing.

Artemis Ocean Racing II’s mainsail has been slowly and frustratingly delaminating and breaking down for the past three weeks, and a one metre vertical split in the sail added to the challenges in the last 24 hours. With the isolated expanse of the Pacific & Southern Oceans ahead and no land until South America and the often treacherous Cape Horn the loss of a reliable mainsail at this juncture, coupled with earlier damage to his starboard daggerboard sustained in early December, has forced Malbon to make a cold hard rational assessment of the situation and take the decision to retire, which is the sensible thing for himself as skipper, the boat and Artemis as sponsor.

Jonny Malbon commented: “I am absolutely devastated. We (AOR II and I) have been through so much since the start and survived it all - I think I always imagined that if I went out of this race it would not be something I would have to weigh up and decide, it would just be something that happened and be beyond my control. The thing with this is that I could carry on for a bit but it is only a matter of time - it is no longer if but when the mainsail will just disintegrate completely, so heading out past New Zealand back into the Southern Ocean is just not feasible. My heart is telling me to go on but my head is telling me I have to stop and in the end it is true - I have no choice. Words cannot describe my disappointment that this has come to an end.”

Malbon, who is currently around 300 miles south of New Zealand’s South Island, will now turn north to make port where he will be met by members of his shore team.

Jonny concluded: “It has been a mammoth effort for everyone involved with this team to get here. To have achieved what we have is amazing and in particular I would like to thank the whole team, from top to bottom, for the massive amount of work and commitment to get AOR II and myself to the start line and as it turns out half way around the world in a boat that has like all the other competitors taken a pounding in this event and kept me safe throughout. I am also very fortunate in having the backing of a company like Artemis. They are so much more than just a sponsor and their help, guidance and support has been unwavering throughout.”

Having spoken to Jonny directly, Artemis Investment Management CEO Mark Tyndall fully supported Jonny’s decision, “Everyone at Artemis Investment Management is incredibly disappointed for Jonny that his Vendée Globe dream is now over. However Jonny’s safety is our priority and disappointing as it may be to pull stumps at half time in the circumstances this is the right and responsible decision. The Vendée Globe is one of the toughest sporting endeavours on the planet, and although Jonny did not succeed in completing the course, along with many others who have sadly had to retire from the race this time, we have collectively gained a huge amount of valuable knowledge and experience. We look forward to welcoming Jonny and AOR II back on British shores in the near future.

We’ll keep you up to date with progress and keep the blog site running till he is safe ashore.  He’s a sad solo sailor tonight, compounded by  fatigue and severe disappointment, but he’s determined that he and the team will sort the boat out and get her going fast for the coming season.  Thanks for all your support and encouragement.

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Day 55

Jonny reports that things are still difficult on board ARTEMIS.  The damage to the mainsail is extensive and basically outside the repair capability onboard.  Too much to repair with limited repair resources of glue and tape, and very hostile conditions in which to work, particularly with the wet and cold environment.  He’s working hard with his shore team to sort out the options.

 

“We’re in the process of trying to work out what our options are. It’s pretty badly delaminated, the scrim on the port side seems to have indiscriminately fallen off the sail so there’s obviously been an adhesion problem. We’ve been relying on the taffeta on the starboard side to retain the structure and strength of the sail, and unfortunately now the taffeta seems to be detaching itself from the fibres. So now it’s turning into a string vest, and unfortunately once those fibres start coming off the situation becomes critical.

It’s getting worse and worse and worse. I simply cannot repair that sort of damage, I’ve never seen anything like it before, I don’t have enough materials or glue or I haven’t got enough hands. So the situation’s becoming a bit depressing and I’ve worked so hard to be in this race and be in 12th position and we’re not looking good.

We’re expecting a front to come through, looking at 30-35 in the gusts, so I’m just going to be sailing as safely as possible during that period, and whilst that’s going on I’m in touch with the shore team and the sponsors and we’re looking at all possible options. We’ve got to work out what’s safe, what’s feasible and actually how we’re going to continue. 

It’s not nice to hear anyone else having the same problems, and it makes me quite angry that something that’s so completely out of our control is going to have some bearing — not just on my race, but on other skippers’ races.

We’ve got a slight charging issue, I don’t think the batteries are holding their charge. That in itself isn’t an issue, but that becomes an issue of my mainsail disintegrates completely and I have to try and finish the race under jib. If I’m adding two weeks onto the race then my fuel calculations are way out, and the knock-on effects are serious. My starboard board will be a problem - if I haven’t got a daggerboard and no mainsail it’s going to be pretty difficult to go upwind.

The other issues are completely manageable, but throw into the mix that the mainsail is on its last legs and it changes the complexion of quite a few things.

I’d be concerned if I run out tea bags, but I grossly over-ordered! But there’s nothing else that’s an issue on a supplies perspective.” 

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Tough times for Jonny as his mainsail delaminates still further, and yesterday suffered a one metre tear where all the scrim had flaked off, leaving the mesh exposed.

The ARTEMIS blog read:

“The Southern Ocean has claimed some high profile scalps this week

Solo sailor Jonny Malbon saw in the New Year as he was heading south of New Zealand but thoughts of parties were far from his mind. Instead, self preservation and keeping his boat in one piece have been top of the list for Jonny but it has not been easy for the British skipper who has had to contend with potential race ending mainsail issues.

Jonny’s main has slowly been de-laminating for the last three weeks, the worst part of which has now resulted in a one metre vertical hole. The de-lamination has got progressively worse recently and is anticipated to continue. The problem appears to have originated from the glue with which the sail is made. Jonny carries enough spares to effect a repair which he has now done but this is precarious - if Jonny pushes too hard the rip could extend and the whole sail could be split in two but if he does not push hard enough he will run out of repair materials before he can get to the finish.

This is not the way that Jonny had hoped to start the New Year and currently he has no intention of letting it ending his Vendee Globe dream but he commented from onboard: “At the moment the situation is not good. I don’t really know what to do other than to nurse the sail as best I can but by the same token I can’t slow completely as I may run out of materials to fix the thing, it is a fine line. I don’t want this to end my Vendee Globe and I will do anything and everything I can to ensure it doesn’t but it is going to be tough. Having come this far and got through what we have, I would be devastated for something like this to be the end of so much hard work so lets keep our fingers crossed?.”

As well as dealing with these issues it has been relentless and trying for Jonny as he has battled depressions that have brought difficult seas and heavy squalls no doubt putting pressure on the sail. The boat breaking conditions have claimed some high profile scalps this week as two of the front runners head for port. Jonny continued: “I have experienced my worst night yachting ever this week - we had 50+ knots and a terrible sea state. It then improved enabling me to ‘re-mount the horse’ but you never know how long it is going to last or when the next depression is coming so you have to take the bits of breathing space you can.”

For Jonny now, he is hoping that with the end of the festive period so the worst of this weather might be behind them and the start of 2009 may bring a little respite. With the leaders expected at the Horn around Sunday evening it is a comfort for the fleet to know that as they round it they will be on the homeward stretch. However, in the meantime Jonny is focused on getting there and making sure they do not become another statistic in this most brutal of races.”

Some snaps of the mainsail damage”  

  

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Jonny (& Steve, & Dee) hit the local press as year ends

Piece mentioning Jonny, Steve and Dee in “afloatweymouth” today:

Gruelling start to the New Year for sailors, by Laura Kitching.

Charlton Down sailor Steve White aboard his Open 60 yacht Toe in the Water is more than 50 days into the Vendee Globe race.

NEW Year’s Eve will be a solitary affair for ocean racing skippers Steve White and Jonny Malbon.

The solo sailors have endured ice cold rain and massive waves aboard their 60-foot yachts in the hostile Southern Ocean this Christmas.

They are competing against each other and 13 other skippers in the Vendee Globe non-stop around-the-world race.

The gruelling 24,840-mile race has already seen 15 yachtsmen forced to retire.

New Year’s Day will mark 52 days at sea for father-of-four Steve, of Charlton Down, and former Weymouth schoolboy Jonny.

Steve, 35, said: “It will be an unusual New Year for me to say the least.

“For a start (my wife) Kim and I will be apart, but also I will be in the Pacific Ocean, somewhere to the east of New Zealand amongst the albatross and the big grey rollers, the memories of which will stay forever.

“I’ll be looking forward to crossing an ocean that I hope will be kinder to us than the Indian Ocean has been, and of course to rounding that most famous landmark of all for sailors, Cape Horn.

Former Weymouth schoolboy Jonny Malbon. Credit: Lloyd Images

“This will mark the beginning of the sprint home back up the Atlantic in the sunshine to the finish in what will be by then a tired boat.”

Steve, who remortgaged his family home four times in a stressful sponsorship search before a last-minute backer secured his place on the French start line, said it had been a rollercoaster year’ for his whole family.

He added: “Now, living out my dream and staying in the race I hope until the end, all the heartache seems like a distant memory.

“Out of 30 starters comprising the top solo sailors in the world we are placed 12th, and have just received the Seahorse Sailor of the Month Award.

“It is difficult to see how life could be better.”

Steve said his return to Les Sable d’Olonne in France in February would be a turning point for us all and the end of a 10-year struggle’.

He hoped it would also boost his ocean racing campaign and added: “Whatever happens, I will be spending more time with the family.”

His wife Kim said it was her first New Year’s Eve without Steve.

She added: “We will all be raising a glass to him - we are very proud.”

Jonny, 34, is currently one place behind White and two places behind former Swanage PE teacher Dee Caffari.

He received festive support from his father, Sir Fabian Malbon, and family who left presents aboard his boat and Christmas wishes from sailing legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnston.

Remaining optimistic despite the gruelling conditions, Jonny said: “We are still out here on the race course, still making progress, and still part of the event - long may it continue.”

4:29pm Tuesday 30th December 2008

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