Yachting: Broken Keel Ends Ex-champ's Vendee Globe Bid

PARIS, , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Nov, 2016 ) - Former champion Vincent Riou has pulled out of the Vendee Globe solo around the world yacht race with a broken keel after hitting an underwater object.

He was fifth and speeding towards the Cape of Good Hope when he became the second skipper after Bertrand De Broc to be forced out of the epic challenge expected to take around 80 days. Riou won the event in 2004 and was third in 2009 before also being forced to quit in 2012.

The damage concerned the axis of the keel attaching it to the hull and there was a risk it could eventually have become separated from the craft. The Frenchman will now head to Cape Town for repairs before sailing the 60ft craft back to France.

Meanwhile the front group of skippers is still headed by Welshman Alex Thomson with Sebastien Josse and Armel Le Cleach close behind.

Vendee Globe standings at 1800 GMT: 1. Alex Thomson (GBR/Hugo Boss) at 18,359 nautical miles from the finish 2.

Sibastien Josse (FRA/Edmond de Rothschild) at 94.74 miles from the leader 3. Armel Le Cliac'h (FRA/Banque Populaire VIII) at 97.45 4. Morgan Lagravihre (FRA/Safran) at 257.29 5. Paul Meilhat (FRA/SMA) at 405.63 6.

Jirimie Beyou (FRA/Mantre Coq) at 528.39 7. Yann Elihs (FRA/Quiguiner-Leucimie Espoir) at 950.24 8. Jean Le Cam (FRA/Finisthre Mer Vent) at 1,476 9. Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA/StMichel-Virbac) at 1,510 10.

Thomas Ruyant (FRA/Le Soufle Du Nord) at 1,669.28 Selected 14. Kojiro Shiraishi (JPN/Spirit of Yukoh) 2,136 16. Conrad Coleman (US-AUS/Foresight Natural Energy) 2,170.6 19. Rich Wilson (US/Great American IV) 2,245 24. Enda O'Coineen (IRE/Kilcullen Voyeger) 2,649.7