Matmut skipper passes through Hobart film gate with 1,600 mile lead over 2nd placed Mark Slats

Jean-Luc Van Den Heede reached Hobart in Tasmania for the BoatShed.com–film gate collection point at 07:30 local time on Saturday October 6 to drop film and letters before heading out of Storm Bay to resume his lengthening lead on day 97 of the Golden Globe Race.

Jean-Luc Van Den Heede (FR) arrives in Hobart, Tasmania at the Boatshed.com Hobart film drop on 6.10.18.
The 73-year old French Veteran and his Rustler 36 yacht MATMUT has a 1,600 mile lead over 2nd placed Dutchman Mark Slats.

The 73-year old Matmut skipper and retired Maths teacher from Lorient was in good spirits and sighted the lengthy preparation work for his 1,600 mile lead. “The boat is good, the self steering works well and I have only minor problems like my leaking windows to deal with,” he said, joking that his bunk is always wet.

Jean-Luc remained at anchor for 3 1/2 hours completing a series of media interviews before making most of the  the calm conditions to check his mast and rigging. He also tried to catch some sleep, but after 15 minutes returned on deck complaining that the conditions were “too calm to sleep!” He then set off to cross the South Pacific Ocean and round Cape Horn predicting that he would complete this solo circumnavigation back to Les Sables d’Olonne during the first week of February, or within 210 days since setting out. Jean-Luc said he was happy to have cut the mast of his Rustler 36 by 7ft. The reduced sail area had meant he was behind Slats and others to begin with in the lighter airs of the Atlantic summer, but once he got into the trade winds south of Tenerife he began to pick up speed.

It’s the sixth circumnavigation for the Frenchman who began sailing when he was 17 is best known for his achievements in single-handed sailing and set the current world-record for the westabout circumnavigation (he holds the overall record, i.e. although he sailed solo, nobody was faster on this route with a crewed boat).

Dutchman Mark Slats, the second placed skipper, trails Van Den Heede by 1,600 miles and is not expected to reach Hobart before October 16.

GoGoR’s interview with Jean-Luc on his arrival in Hobart 

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The two dismasted sailors, Irishman Gregor McGuckin and Indian Navy Commander Abhilash Tomy are now home safe and it would seem there is a plan to salvage their boats Hanley Energy Endurance and Thuriya respectively. The pair had been in fourth and third position when the storm wrecked their boats, and hopes of being able to continue.

THURIYA, dismasted in the South Indian Ocean. Solo skipper Abhilash Tomy suffered a serious back injury when the yacht was rolled through 360 degrees and was carried to the rescue ship Osiris on a stretcher. © AUSTRALIAN MARITIME SAFETY

Neil O’Hagen, spokesman for Team Ireland issued the following statement:

“During the controlled evacuation of Hanley Energy Endurance, McGuckin was instructed to leave the vessel afloat. The French fisheries patrol vessel Osiris instructed McGuckin that scuttling the vessel would be in breach of international maritime regulations. Hence, McGuckin removed all debris from the deck that could become separated, secured all equipment on board, and ensured the AIS beacon was active. The power source to the AIS device is solar panels which should remain active without any outside assistance, reducing the risk to other vessels. Precautionary steps were also taken to ensure the relatively small amount of fuel onboard is secure.”

Capt Dilip Donde, manager for Tomy’s campaign reported that there were plans to salvage Thuriya, also left drifting in the Indian Ocean when he was recovered by the crew of the French Fisheries Patrol ship Osiris. “The plan is for the Indian Navy to tow Thuriya to St Paul’s Island some 40 miles north, and leave a crew to make repairs and sail her to land.”

Gregor McGuckin set up a jury rig and was sailing towards Tomy’s position to help when he decided to give up rather than risk sailing 1900nM to Australia under jury rig without an engine or self steering.

The Indian Navy have been unavailable to comment further. Race organisers believe the reason for the French Fisheries Protection vessel Osiris not allowing these skippers to scuttle their boats is because the waters surrounding this string of islands in the South Indian Ocean is designated as an International Marine Park, and protected by law from being polluted deliberately.

Responsibility for what happens to these yachts rests with the skippers. More updates soon.


All photos: Christophe Favreau/PPL/GGR  Original Video footage: PPL/GGR