Intro:

Cheminees Poujoulat's Bernard Stamm will appeal his disqualification from the Vendee Globe on Wednesday (January 2nd).

Script:

Bernard Stamm has confirmed that he will appeal the decision to disqualify him from the Vendee Globe.

The Swissman was told earlier on Wednesday (January 2nd) that he had been judged to have received outside assistance in the round-the-world singlehander boat race.

Stamm's anchor dragged during a pit stop near the Auckland Islands on December 23rd.

A crew member of a Russian scientific boat boarded Cheminees Poujoulat.

One of the central rules is that competitors should race around the world without any outside assistance.

Stopping for repairs is allowed, but no-one is permitted to help in any way. Stamm, who subsequently went to Dunedin to complete the repairs and has since restarted his trek towards towards Cape Horn, was given 24 hours to ask for the decision to be overturned.

He has said he will carry on to the finish in Les Sables d'Olonne regardless of the decision.

Francois Gabart remains in the lead, with Armel Le Cleac'h in second place.