Elies update - day two

Generali skipper's condition stable

Yann Eliès’ spirits and mood have lifted knowing help is with him and on its way

His medical condition is stable Marc Guillemot has attempted several times to throw water, food and medication down the companionway hatch to his stricken fellow skipper, but it has so far proven too difficult for Yann to grab them.

The ETA of the Royal Australian Navy Frigate is now 1400hrs GMT Saturday, their schedule improving with favourable weather conditions.

Present at Press Conference.
Alain Gautier, Vendee Globe Safety Consultant

Jean Luc Lazaro, Chief of Sailing Projects Generali
Denis Horeau, Race Director Vendée Globe.

At a press conference/update on the Elies situation Race Director of the Vendee Globe Denis Horeau said: “The frigate from Australian Royal Navy left Perth around 1800GMT. It’s a big ship, 118m long, with more than a 100 crew on board. It was confirmed that there’s no helicopter on board. The two well known and competent skippers that were due to embark could not get on, so the crew on board are strictly entirely military.

"The boat’s ETA is now 1400hrs GMT tomorrow (Saturday) and so it has been able to go quicker than first expected. The Australians are very determined to accomplish this military mission, to save Yann Elies, and in the history of the Vendée Globe they have always been very proven very diligent and competent when it comes to saving lives.

"Marc Guillemot arrived late yesterday evening besideYann Elies. They talked via VHF, and his mission, that of emotional assistance, is working very well. 

"Marc has tried twice to get close to Yann to throw him packages of water, medication, bread and pate. He really wants to boost the morale of his friend who’s in difficulty, and Marc plans to stay there until the end of this problem. He will not give up. Marc will not stop contacting Yann.

“Sam Davies is on her way as well, quite fast, with strong winds of near 35 knots, and she will arrive tonight. So we will have two boats to bring morale and psychogical support to Yann Elies. Any physical helps seems to be difficult if not impossible.

“Meanwhile we are trying to help with the planning with the Royal Australian Navy: how will they operate and what will happen exactly, in coordination with David Adams in Australia and Alain Gautier here with us in Paris and others are trying to work out the best strategy.”

Erwan Steff, Administrative and Technical Manager for Team Generali, added: “We spoke to Yann this morning. He is a bit better. Unfortunately he still has not taken any painkillers or medicine. He has no water nearby, but his moral is rising. He has been able to find lime juice, a cereal bar and condensed milk, some essentials. It has given him hope to be able to hydrate himself and be able to eat a bit. He is still in a lot of pain but knows that Marc Guillemot is there and is boosted by the news that the frigate is going faster than expected. So it puts him in a position where hope is rising and Yann is being very strong and focussed. Of course he’s impatient for the Australian boat to get there. Yann saw Marc’s sails from where he is, so now he can physically see his friend, so that helped him. The fact that Marc tried to throw him food and medicine makes him realise that people are mobilized to get him out of this situation.

Marc has gone through this situation himself before (capsize of Jet Services in December 1985 when Guillemot was trapped with badly broken hip) so he knows how to talk to Yann and find the right words to help him through this."

Race Director, Jean Yves Chauve gave his assessment of Elies' condition: “I spoke to Yann at 9 this morning, we did a checkup as we do every two hours. Erwann and myself - we do this regularly, so things have now stabilised. Of course Yann still cannot move, since the pain is so intense. He can move his toes and has good blood circulation around the leg. Because of the fracture there’s probably internal bleeding, the leg is a bit 'displaced' on the outside, so there’s a loss of circulation somewhere above the knee. The thigh is very painful and is swollen. His position is not very comfortable. His lower back hurts him. The whole left side hurts, he has some bad bruises and the muscles are very tense and sore as they contract themselves.

"His back hurts around one rib, so we don’t know if he has a broken rib or a bruise even if it is a broken rib it’s not that serious.

"For food, the difficulty is that he cannot move to get food, so it’s a problem for him, but he only has 24 hours to hold on to, same thing for water, so logically that should not pose a problem.

"The problem is that he still cannot access the painkillers. But he’s in a position where if he doesn’t move he doesn’t hurt.

"Marc tried to send him a bottle of water with meds but it did not work.

"If the pain is controllable and if he can stay stable he can hold on for the next 24 hours, Overall that is the most sensible solution and most comfortable for him.”

“Marc called him, Yann talked to me about it saying how is good to have two skippers together in the same place. So he needs this help right now and we can hear in his voice that Marc’s presence is important to him.”