On Monday 27 June, the Lorient Criminal Court examined the case file on the collision between the maxi-trimaran Spindrift 2 (Yann Guichard) and a semi-rigid during the Breton stage (Lorient) of the Volvo Ocean Race on June 16, 2015. One of the trimaran's rudders had struck the boat, where four people were seated, and seriously injured the leg of one of the passengers present. The latter was present alongside her husband in the canoe as part of the safety system planned for the start of the 9th and final leg of the Volvo Ocean Race. The latter had her left leg amputated and her right leg fractured multiple times.
Yann Guichard is being prosecuted for unintentional injuries with incapacity exceeding three months, aggravated by a manifestly deliberate breach of an obligation of safety and care and endangering the lives of others.
In the evening, the public prosecutor Laureline Peyrefitte requested a minimum six-month suspended prison sentence, a 20,000 euro fine and publication of the sentence in specialised newspapers. The hearing, which began at 1:30 p.m., ended at approximately 11 p.m. "Mr. Guichard has shown complacency and contempt for safety rules that are addressed to him more than to others, even he, the "seasoned professional" are the prosecutor's words, reported by the Team. In Ouest-France, we can read the opinion of the public prosecutor's office "it violated two rules of law: the Prefectural Decree of 5 June 2016 (which delimited an exclusion zone) and the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea"
A first trial was scheduled for 10 February, but the lawyers for the skipper of the Spindrift team considered the file incomplete.
During the session, the trajectories of the boats were discussed using photos and videos to make plans. Yann Guichard admitted that he had not informed the race organisers that he was getting closer to the start line. However, the latter's defence considers that the responsibility is shared since the two boats were going to cross and that the semi-rigid did not change its trajectory. The defense is therefore asking for his client's release.
The victim, on the other hand, claims that the canoe was at rest with Spindrift 2 behind their backs and that the occupants had therefore not seen the giant trimaran advance. The court reserved its decision on July 12.
