Louis Burton’s incredible repair to continue the 2024 Vendée Globe

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Was abandonment an option for Louis Burton on this Vendée Globe 2024? This was the question that the skipper of Bureau Vallée could legitimately ask himself on Saturday November 16, 2024.

While he was in the leading group of the western option, Louis Burton warned his shore team and the Vendée Globe race management that he had just heard a very disturbing noise: a “big crack” which immediately caught his attention.

The skipper had noticed the presence of cracks on the deck of the boat, at the level of the gennaker spreader.

This incident risked affecting the structural integrity of the boat.

The skipper therefore had to carefully examine his Imoca before anything else.

Many feared abandonment. But that won’t be the case.

Cleverness and a lot of energy

Giving up was an option that the skipper refused to consider and he confirmed on Monday evening, November 19, that he continued the race.

An announcement made via a video posted on social networks after having conducted an impressive repair siteSunday and Monday, almost without stopping… This video shows the scale of the task: sanding, cutting, gluing, lamination…

It also showst the extent of the damage and the cracks that appeared on the boat.

“It doesn’t crack anymore”

The result was worth it. Another video, posted a few hours later, allows us to appreciate the result and understand the efforts and especially the resourcefulness of the skipper of Bureau Vallée:

“We have regained structural integrity, it no longer cracks. »

Louis Burton is now ready to continue the race. Even if it appears calmer, we will obviously have to be vigilant in the coming days and ensure that the repairs hold up.

It points to 25^e place. And it is Jean Le Cam, again thanks to his Eastern option, who occupies the top of the ranking!

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