JONNY Malbon suffered a major blow to his Vendée Globe campaign sustaining boat damage after hitting a whale.

The Southampton yachtsman was blasting along at more than 15 knots in the south Atlantic when his yacht Artemis struck the whale.

The collision caused permanent damage to the starboard daggerboard affecting the yacht’s upwind performance.

Despite the setback, Malbon, last night in 18th, has vowed to continue the 24,000-mile round the world race.

He said: “The boat immediately stopped dead in the water and remained there for about a minute until the animal released itself from the daggerboard.

“I was under one reef and Jibtop at the time.

“Once we had broken free, we sailed off very quickly, but I could clearly see the animal astern in a lot of trouble.

“I have some serious damage to my starboard daggerboard, but the boat is fine and the structure surrounding the daggerboard is intact.

“We have not taken on any water. I will be continuing to race, and will monitor the condition of both the board and the boat.”

Malbon, based at Ocean Village, is taking on his first Vendée Globe race, which is also his first major race as a solo skipper.

He cut his teeth preparing Open 60 racing yachts for some of Britain’s most famous solo sailors, most notably Dame Ellen MacArthur, and is now taking the stage himself.

On Ecover 3 Mike Golding (Ecover 3) has been paced by Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux) who takes eighth place just now, with Golding ninth.