Francis Joyon, who won the 2018 Route du Rhum, capsized on Monday, November 2, in the Celtic Sea during the second day of the race. The organizers said the 70-year-old skipper was not injured, but confirmed that a rescue operation had been initiated.
The operation was launched in coordination with the race management, the Jobourg Regional Operational Centre for Surveillance and Rescue (CROSS), and British authorities. According to the first information provided by Joyon, he was unharmed. Weather conditions in the area were described as manageable, with winds of 20 to 25 knots and waves around two metres high.
Joyon was competing in the Vintage Multi category aboard an Orma, a 60-foot multihull known for its speed but also for its instability. He had made a strong start after Sunday’s departure off Saint-Malo.
After manoeuvring south-west of Ireland to point his boat towards the northern Azores, Joyon led his class until around midday. Damien Seguin, sailing Arkea-Handicap International, and Eric Péron, aboard French Touch-Oceania Hotels, moved ahead at 5 p.m.
The French sailor was taking part in the Route du Rhum for the ninth time. In 2018, he overtook François Gabart, from the Charente region, just a few miles before the finish in Guadeloupe to secure his first overall victory.
Joyon has also won other major races, including the Transat anglaise, and has set several sailing records around the world, both solo and as part of a crew.
Sources: Le Monde Sport.