Vendee Globe : HMAS Aruta should reach Yan Elies around 1000 UTC
Saturday, 20 December 2008

The Australin Navy frigate Aruta should be alongside Generali by about 1000 UTC, ready to take off Yann Eliès who has a serious fracture of his left femur.

Yann, who is still in a great deal of pain, is still receiving the moral support of Marc Guillemot, who is in near constant radio or visual contact.

On land, Erwan Sreff, administrative director of Generali and race doctor Jean-Yves Chauve have taken turns to speak to Yann, whose condition has stabilised since he was able to reach and take some tranquilisers.

The medical team on board the frigate has also spoken twice to Yann.

HMAS Aruta should arrive with about 3 hours of daylight in which to prepare Yann for the evacuation and get him on board.

Wind conditions are expected to be 22 knots from the north west, but weakening.

The sea state is rough.

Bénédicte Etienne Translation Marian Martin

bymnews.com