Jonny Malbon

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...

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...

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...

…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.

          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...

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: British skipper makes the toughest of calls on his solo circumnavigation Jonny Malbon, racing onboard...

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...

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...