Between a rock and the deep blue sea

Swiss solo sailor Bernard Stamm was still in Dunedin coastal waters yesterday, having anchored again, this time off Allan's Beach on Otago Peninsula, to complete repairs to a damaged hydro-generator.

Mr Stamm was part-way through the nonstop Vendee Globe 2012 round-the-world yacht race when forced to divert to Dunedin to undertake repairs on the generator and central winch column.

He attracted media attention after anchoring off Murdering Beach, near Dunedin, on Boxing Day, but appeared to rejoin the race on Thursday afternoon.

However, his yacht, Cheminees Poujoulat, was anchored off the peninsula yesterday.

Reports on the Vendee Globe race website suggested Mr Stamm had moved because of a change in wind direction and was continuing repairs, but was almost ready to depart.