County Kerry Round the World racer Damian Foxall says “more needs to be done” to ensure a safe environment for all in global sailing.
The comments from 11th Hour Ocean Racing’s sustainability manager come after the sudden departure of Team Holcim-PRB skipper Kevin Escoffier from The Ocean Race last weekend for what were cited as “personal reasons”.
It was later confirmed by The Ocean Race that “an incident” allegedly involving Escoffier took place during the race stopover in Newport last month.
In its statement on Tuesday (6 June), the race said: “Our immediate concern has been with the safeguarding of any person who may have been impacted and we have, in this case, been assured by Team Holcim-PRB that safeguarding measures within their team are in place for this. We respect the right to privacy and have offered, and continue to offer, our full support and access to any services that might be beneficial.
“No formal complaint or report has been received by The Ocean Race to date. This is primarily a matter to be dealt with by the team and the regulatory authorities for the sport of sailing. On Saturday (3 June), Kevin Escoffier stepped down as skipper of Team Holcim-PRB and will not rejoin the race.”
It added: “World Sailing has confirmed the French Sailing Federation (FFV) is the appropriate organisation to investigate and apply sanctions (if any) in relation to this incident.
“On Monday (5 June), we spoke with the FFV, who confirmed they are following their procedures to set up an investigation, including sending a report to the French Ministry of Sport. We support this initiative and are fully cooperating with the FFV.
“The Ocean Race is committed to a safe environment for everyone on and off the water and will continue its work to promote inclusion in the sport of sailing.”
As Inside the Games reports, FFV president Jean-Luc Denéchau told a French newspaper that he “made a number of phone calls which led me to believe that the alleged incident referred to by the skipper [in a since-redacted social media post] is in fact inappropriate behaviour he allegedly displayed towards a young woman at a party in Newport.”
Damian Foxall says “more needs to be done to ensure that major events and classes put in place charters to define” standards of conduct and safeguards for all involved in sailing
Speaking to sailing newsletter Tip & Shaft in his capacity of 11th Hour Racing Team’s sustainability manager and not as a rival of Team Holcim-PRB, Damian Foxall said that regardless of the outcome of this situation, it must lead to a global review of standards of conduct.
“A lot of work has been done on inclusion, diversity and gender equality in racing, but perhaps more needs to be done to ensure that major events and classes put in place charters to define the standards of work, the responsibilities of managers, but also the safeguards and warning mechanisms as necessary,” he said.
“These systems must be clear, accessible and well identified. The Ocean Race has its own but are they sufficiently known and accessible to everyone? I don't know. What is the IMOCA class doing on these subjects? You have to ask them.”
