The French skipper Kevin Escoffier (PRB), mounted on his liferaft after a major water leak on his boat, was recovered safe and sound by his compatriot Jean Le Cam (Yes we Cam!),
The French skipper Kevin Escoffier (PRB), mounted on his liferaft after a major water leak on his boat, was recovered safe and sound by his compatriot Jean Le Cam (Yes we Cam!), Announced on Tuesday the organization of the Vendée Globe.
"It was at 2:18 am French time (1:18 GMT) that the PRB team was informed of the rescue. The PRB skipper appeared smiling, bundled up in his survival suit alongside Jean Le Cam," tweeted the organizer.
Third in the race, Escoffier had triggered his distress beacon on Monday while sailing in the 40th Roaring, an area known for its breaking waves and strong winds.
"Everything has been done to find the Malouin tossed about in his life raft on the border with the Indian Ocean, 600 miles southwest of the Cape of Good Hope," said the organizer. his site, which closely followed the ultimately successful rescue attempt for several hours.
"Everyone is fine. They are recovering!"
While Jean Le Cam "was progressing at 1.5 knots in a wind of 20-25 knots under very reduced canopy (3 reefs in the mainsail and without engine), he disappeared from the screen and we heard him. We couldn't see anyone anymore, ”recounts Jacques Caraës, the race director, on the site.
"Then, a few minutes after 1:06 UT, or 2:06 French time (time at which he must have precisely retrieved Kevin on board), Jean went back down to the chart table, then we saw Kevin arrive behind his back in a survival suit . They appeared seconds, both fit before the video cut. He is fine. Everyone is fine. They are recovering! "He added.
Four skippers left on Monday in search of Escoffier.
The Cam had been the first to have reached the emission zone of the Escoffier distress beacon, at 5:00 p.m. French time, ie 2 hours after the alert.