The giant trimaran IDEC skippered by Francis Joyon has overturned this morning around 7:00 (HF) off the coast of New York. He had crossed the start at 00 hours, 08 minutes and 10 seconds GMT (02 hours, 08 minutes and 10 seconds HF) in his attempt against the record for crossing the North Atlantic. Francis Joyon was about twenty miles off when his multihull was taken at night in a violent burst the passage of a storm. The trimaran was then the “web time”, with three reefs in the mainsail taken and CRO in the front, is the ideal combination to manage and some 25 knots of wind blowing from the south in the area. Through the wind, a sea still calm, Joyon was facing the most perilous conditions for a multihull. A violent and sudden squall capsized suddenly has the maxi trimaran IDEC on the side.
Relief was immediately alerted. Francis Joyon is well. He is in contact with the router Jean-Yves Bernot. He will probably remain on board the boat overturned pending the arrival of a tug capable of IDEC back safely.
Francis Joyon’s own words on what happened during the night:
“I was in my seat to watch outside the boat. I began to extricate myself meteorologically disturbed area as close to American shores. I had managed to drive about 90 miles on the road in very irregular and highly unstable, with a poorly established wind direction varied between 10 and 30 knots. I went through some very intense storm episodes, marked by violent gusts but it’s at a time when I thought I extract myself from this area that I received as a true giant mushroom that has catapulted the boat on its side. I was sailing under reefed mainsail with three reefs, with the small CRO in the front. The violence of the gale was such that the bed sensor, alarm anti capsize so did not have time to go off I felt the pressure and I shocked the mainsail, then the cart in style. The wind continued to grow very violently and I felt the boat literally catapulted into the air. Within seconds, I was “on the roof.” I found myself under water, as plated in the nets. I tried to m ‘ guide to see how back in the open air. It was night and chaos. In energy, I found myself near a float. I’m not sure how I joined the forward beam and I was able to climb onto the platform. I then joined inside the boat through the flap survival.
I think Idec has not suffered too much. I have about 10 cm of water inside. I could save my mail. I got my phone from my Iridium to prevent capsizing. I have a “flash light” very powerful and I felt like the boat drift into the path of major shipping to New York, I spent the late night on the threads to report my presence to freighters. The sun rises now and what danger is. I am in contact with hourly Christophe Houdet down. I know that many people are mobilizing to find a tug. I am only fifty miles from Newport (Rhode Island). The boat seems intact and I know that the rig does not bump against the platform. The sea state is calm and air temperature quite bearable. I have something to eat. ” Once a towing vessel arrives, I will be able to dump the rig, and perhaps consider a turning operation to facilitate towing … ”
A rescue boat arrived on area to assess the situation, take part in securing the area of the capsizing, and may lend support to Francis. Patrice Lafargue, Chairman of the IDEC active all her network of contacts in real time and follows the evolution of the situation. Francis Joyon has no plans to leave his boat. Various contacts are underway with U.S. and tugs can be reasonably estimated that the recovery operation of the boat with Francis on board will be set up in the day ….
We are so sorry to hear of this news about IDEC , but very thankful that Francis was uninjured in the capsize.
