A Maersk Columbus tanker rescued a frozen sailor who had capsized during the Route du Rhum sailing race on Monday. This incident took place off the west coast of Ireland, where Francis Joyon was competing with his boat named "Océans".
Details of the Incident and Rescue
Francis Joyon, a famous French sailor, was steering his 60-foot frozen boat when it capsized in a position off the southwest coast of Ireland. He was racing from Saint-Malo to Guadeloupe and was leading his class at the time of the capsize. Fortunately, he was unharmed and immediately requested rescue. Relevant organizations, including CROSS Jobourg and HM Coastguard, coordinated the necessary actions.
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The Maersk Columbus tanker quickly arrived at the scene and proceeded to rescue Joyon. He reached safety by around 2300, and according to the race organizers, the tanker is set to transfer him to Ireland.
History of Frozen Boats and Accident Statistics
The Océans boat belongs to the ORMA class, designed for speed and built in the 1990s and 2000s. These boats are known for their lightweight and high power, but they have a significant reputation for accidents in the world of offshore sailing. In the Route du Rhum race in 2002, seven boats of this type suffered serious damage, and five capsized.
Additionally, in the same race, another frozen boat named "Elvest" also capsized on Tuesday about 400 miles north of the Azores. The sailor of this boat, Matthieu Perraut, remained unharmed and is awaiting rescue.
The high rate of capsizes in sailing races is a constant challenge for sailors. Last year, in the Transat Jacques Vabre race, three frozen boats capsized on the first night, highlighting the dangers present in the designs of these lightweight and high-speed boats.
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