50%. That’s the attrition rate in the Vendee Globe solo around the world race as of today, with 15 skippers retired out of the 30 who started on November 9. The leaders are right now approaching the greatest challenge, rounding the Horn, and then face the long slog up the Atlantic. The afterguard has been hammered by storm after storm, and are doubly penalized for their slowness by having to expose themselves to risk for that much longer. Incroyable!
January 4th – they are now down to 14 as Jonny Malbon has retired due to mainsail delamination problems.
0255 CST Jan 6/2009 Bad news. Jean le Cam called to report “big problems” and then the phone went dead. A search and rescue mission has been launched. He was about 200 miles from Cape Horn. I hope he is ok.