French solo sailor Armel Le Cléac'h has been rescued by a Panamanian cargo ship after his giant trimaran, Maxi Banque Populaire XI, capsized in the Atlantic during the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe.
Le Cléac'h was lying second in the transatlantic race when the Ultim trimaran overturned at approximately 5.30am on Wednesday (4 November), some 550 nautical miles north-west of the Azores.
As Afloat reported earlier, the skipper activated his distress beacon and remained in contact with his shore team while sheltering inside the overturned vessel.
Panamanian Cargo Ship Carries Out Rescue
Several merchant vessels were diverted to assist the French skipper. A Panamanian-flagged cargo ship was first to reach the scene during the afternoon and successfully took him aboard.
Team Banque Populaire confirmed that Le Cléac'h was in good health and thanked race management, the cargo ship's crew and everyone involved in the rescue.
Skipper Expected to Arrive in United States
Sébastien Josse, technical director of Team Banque Populaire, said the team had maintained contact with Le Cléac'h throughout the day and received reassuring messages about his health.
Josse said the skipper was expected to arrive in the United States, where the team would arrange to meet him. The team and Le Cléac'h's family were relieved that he was safe.
Recovery of Capsized Ultim
Attention is now turning to recovering Maxi Banque Populaire XI. Team Banque Populaire said personnel were mobilising for that operation, although the condition of the trimaran and the cause of the capsize have not yet been established.
The accident comes amid a demanding opening week for the fleet, with another Ultim forced to seek assistance off Galway and a succession of incidents across the transatlantic race.
