Safe and sound...
The skipper of the trimaran Actual, Yves le Blévec, was hoisted by helicopter this Thursday afternoon (14th December) after capsizing during the night off Cape Horn. After passing the first of the three east-west capes for over two hours, one of his trimaran's links broke. However, the skipper was sailing under light sail, in controlled conditions. A big disappointment for Yves le Blévec, but also for his team and all the staff of the Actual Group. All the more so as the sailor had made a very fine start to the course.
While waiting for rescue, the sailor was joined by a passenger launch - the Stella Australis - dispatched by the MRCC Chile and ready to intervene if necessary.
Helicoptered by the Chilean coastguard in the early afternoon, the skipper was first dropped off in Puerto William (Chilean port on Navarino Island, located in the Beagle Channel), before being taken over by the Chilean military to go as far as Punta Arenas (located in the Straits of Magellan). 12 hours after his capsize, Yves le Blévec is now on dry land, shocked but safe.
"It's a big disappointment considering the size of the challenge we tried to achieve with Yves. I am obviously sad for Yves and the employees of the Actual Group who were all mobilised behind him. We knew it was going to be difficult, but I salute Yves' boldness and courage for trying. This ordeal in no way detracts from our determination to meet challenges. We continue to learn and grow, and we stay the course." said Samuel TUAL, President of the Actual Group.
Armada de Chile
Why?
Now that the sailor is safe, the team is trying to figure out what the hell happened. There was no reason to fear such events last night, when Yves doubled the hard course. He was in control of the situation, sailing with little sail (3 reefs, storm breeze) in the weather conditions that had been estimated by his router, Christian Dumard, namely 30 knots of wind, gusts, and 5 to 6 metre waves. There is also talk of rescuing the trimaran.
Th.Martinez/Sea&Co
