Kevin Escoffier, PRB skipper rescued on the Vendée Globe after a major water leak on his boat, set foot on dry land this Thursday, on Reunion Island.

After a rescue rich in emotion by another competitor Jean Le Cam, he had been recovered by the French Navy.

Europe 1 was there. 

TESTIMONY

The French skipper Kevin Escoffier (PRB), who had to abandon the solo race of the Vendée Globe due to a major water leak in his boat and who had been rescued by Jean Le Cam, was recovered by the frigate " Nivôse "of the French Navy on Sunday morning.

"Kevin is heading for gravel while Jean Le Cam can resume his solo route for this Vendée Globe," PRB said in a press release.

Thursday morning, it's done: he set foot on Reunion Island.

And Europe 1 was there.

After eleven hours spent on a liferaft, a rescue followed by the whole of France, Kevin Escoffier has finally reached dry land.

With a smiling face, tired and tanned by the sun, the skipper was greeted by the prefect of Réunion, Jacques Billant. 

[Arrival of Kevin Escoffier at # LaRéunion]


Jacques Billant welcomes Kevin Escoffier, Vendée Globe participant.

Survivor of the sinking of his sailboat Imoca, he was rescued by his competitor and friend Jean Le Cam then by the frigate "Nivôse". # Vendeeglobe2020 # Marinenationalepic.twitter.com / pGtXE2RRCI

- Prefect of Reunion (@ Prefet974) December 10, 2020

"We will have to digest it"

The sailor is happy to be on dry land, even if his feelings are mixed about his performance.

"I'm a bit torn between the disappointment of a race where the goal of the game was to finish. When I broke the boat, I was third, I was happy with what I had done", confides- he at the microphone of Radio Freedom, partner of Europe 1 on the island of Reunion.

On Monday, November 30, the sailor had triggered a distress signal following a major water leak in his ship, leading to a large-scale rescue operation and the rout of several skippers of the solo race to come to him in help.

The sailor Jean Le Cam, the closest, was able to recover Kevin Escoffier safe and sound after a night full of emotion, in difficult weather conditions. 

"I have no regrets about the breakage of the boat in the sense that I do not think I made any mistakes. Now, we will have to digest it", continues the forties.

"What is certain is that I will not remain on a failure, since it remains for me a sporting failure."

Kevin Escoffier should leave the island on Sunday.