All News & Thoughts
Time flies and in a few weeks Mark Slats sets off again in the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Rowing challenge. You can follow the fun with his new boat and team mate and support his cancer research fund raising from his FB Page...Good luck BIG Fella!! :) #GGR2022Throw back Monday: exactly one year ago I rounded Cape Horn in the Golden Globe Race. It took me 153 days to get there, rounding the third and final Cape. No time to take pictures (which wasn't even possible as it was pitch dark), keep on going: pushing my boat and myself. I needed to catch up with someone ;-)
What an adventure! What a race! When I relive these moments I get highly motivated in whatever I'm doing, such an adrenaline rush still!
What makes your adrenaline level rise?
#markslats #professionaladventurers #gentlegiant #nextadventure #nextproject #heldopzee #sailing4cancer #nevergiveup #bestrongerthanyourexcuse #ggr2018 #livelifetothefullest #giveitall #madebythesea #sailing #winner #inspirationtalk #legend #workhardplayhard #justdoit #goalgetter #adrenalinerush
Sam Davies in the Vendée Globe just hit an unidentified floating object causing damage and is now slowly sailing NORTH. Many people keep thinking it is containers...and this is a big story today, with up to 1900 lost overboard....but there would be very few if any in the Southern Ocean...yes rubbish down there for sure, but also plenty of whales and other large sea life..I hit a whale in 1990 in the Southern Indian ocean and there are many more there today! and more in the years ahead...Sad indeed so good luck Sam and stay safe!! #GGR2022.
Massive Cargo Loss: Estimated 1,900 Containers Lost or Damaged on ONE Apus – gCaptain
gcaptain.com
Yesterday we reported that the containership ONE Apus lost a “significant” number of containers overboard during a storm in the mid-Pacific. Today we’re learning more about just how many were...worst single incident in history..1900 Miles NW of Hawaii :(
Thing is though, those cargo ships go so quickly they don't even notice that one has dropped off. And even if they do...it's too late to go and get it!
Best of luck to Sam. Hope the damage is not too severe to continue. 🇬🇧🤞
I agree shipping companies should be responsible most of them Chinese and goes without saying as one of the biggest polluters 😡
Most will sink quickly. Very few will remain afloat for more than a few days. The chances of hitting one must be in the millions to one. Anyone calculate it? I suspect the forces and speeds involved in Imoca 60’s, create much of the damage, along with auto pilot steering, not avoiding waves. Waves damage large steel ships all the time.
Hope she's OK and not out. I can see the method in you madness. Fibreglass boat built like a tank. Long keel less to catch on. Rudder behind it protected by the keel
Don Glad to hear someone say out loud ,ufo are not all containers. Unfortunately it doesn't sell well with sponsors culling whales en route . Forward looking sonar Some kind of screecherto wake dozing whales.
The sound of the canards is a factor, they have to be omitting a sound that resembles food. Definitely not a mechanical sound that would scare away predators. Probably Orcas or Great Whites thinking that they are about to munch on the mother of all Albatrosses. Two boats in 12hrs.
They should redesign these ships, somehow. The containers should be contained below decks, by international law.
And who's responsible? Who's going to clean up? ☹️
Il va être temps de prendre des mesures pour en finir avec l’irresponsabilité !
She will hold her head up high and say “ I’ve tried I’ll try again “ Top of her game and should be proud. Massive respect ✊
annouschka Annoushka Burianovskyky voila les fameux containers ...futurs ofni...
PRB?
Stephanie Hartwell 😲😘
Each container on a ship should have a tracking device like an EPIRB and the shipping company is to be held responsible for retrieving the stuff, with serious penalties if not done in time... Otherwise nothing will happen ...Our oceans are becoming more and more polluted and nothing is getting done by the UN..These IMOCA boats are like formula one racing machines, a UFO collusion will be disastrous at that high speed..
With all due respect for your achievements, there are much more containers floating now in the Indian ocean than in the 90s, and much less whales.
Nice message of her partner, Romain Attanasio tonight : « Vendée Globe : Initiatives Cœur vient de heurter un OFNI (Objet Flottant Non Identifié) forcément, je suis inquiet mais Sam n'est pas blessée et c'est le principal. C'est une excellente navigatrice (la meilleure) et je sais qu'elle saura gérer au mieux la situation et prendre toutes les précautions pour rester en sécurité. »
Another Classic conversation about life and Humanity with Jean Luc Van Den Heede that will impress the reader...you can auto translate with Google.....one small part of the article....Quote
The Golden Globe, the art of taking your time
The sea, a different prism " Having seen the world and the sea, it transformed my gaze. We no longer observe nature in the same way. We no longer consider people in the same way either. We have time. to think and reflect. Question and question yourself. You have to question yourself, on your instant choices as well as on your essential life choices. At the helm, I had the time to question myself and build my philosophy . " Marine corollary ? "The chart table has changed. We have switched to more technique and less poetry. It's life that is like that and that made us change. When you borrowed a car in 1900, you had to have a spark plug under the engine for it to start the next day. It had a certain poetry, of course. But today, we don't hate being able to start the car when we need to, no matter what time of day or night. Poetry, I found it in the Golden Globe. This race is real, sextant and loch. Despite the difficulties I encountered there. I loved this race, it is poetic. I recommend it to all dreamers, really. As long as they are prepared, of course! "
Jean-Luc Van den Heede. Profession ? Humain
bateaux.com
Jean-Luc Van den Heede n'est pas seulement le navigateur qu'on surnomme VDH dans le milieu. C'est un homme qui profite et a profité de sa solitude maritime pour penser sa vie d'homme aux multiples facettes. Il nous livre, à coeur ouvert, sa philosophie de vie et de course au large.Such a wise man.Thank you Monsieur VDH
Beautiful !
An example for us ! A Great man
Beautiful!
The power of sailing in FRANCE is quite extraordinary.....Emmanuel Macron wanted to personally congratulate Jean Le Cam for the rescue of Kevin Escoffier. The President of the Republic called them by videoconference Tuesday evening from his office at the Elysee. A three-way conversation that gave rise to funny exchanges.
#GGR2022
www.youtube.com/watch?v=33F2vVsiG0U&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR0ikFhg0lKZtACxJDFwHJsKkNcvayDGTSuImi...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=33F2vVsiG0U&feature=emb_logoLe Chef de l'Etat a tenu à faire part de sa reconnaissance à Jean Le Cam et Kevin Escoffier qui ont fait quelque-chose d'extraordinaire. Ils y ont été très s...
Where's the Asgard? This was the Irish government's commitment to sailing... We will build another one soon. Ish. They collected the insurance money and vanished.
Yes we Cam bloody brilliant
com com quand tu nous tiens.....
So in France this epic achievement of heroism is marked by a call from the president, in the UK barely gets a mention in mainstream media.
This is fabulous. I wish the Rest of the world held sailing in such a high regard as a sport.
Moi, perso, je trouve un President qui se filme avec 2 cameras quand il passe un coup de fil, ridicule. Il pouvait très bien les appeler, cela aurait été sympa, mais de se filmer en train de le faire c'est assez ridicule. En revanche je suis d'accord avec vous, Don, quand vous dites "the power of sailing " en France, c'est vrai, oui :) Merci d'avoir partagé cette video que je n'avais pas encore vue :)
long distance sailing regattas in france is serious business .. when i was kid britain was more of a leader (withbread, ggr, fastnet, etc)but thing seem to have changed in my view. this is great it gives even more exposure across europe of this races !
There's not mention of ANY world sailing events in Canada sadly. The guy clinging to his power boat off the Florida coast gets mentioned in the sports news. Its not even our country! But then .... the Tour de France barely gets a mention either. Its all hockey hockey hockey ... and soccer.
We used to Paul. The Ostar and the Whitbread Round the World Race started here but the French truly took it heart and when Plymouth lost interest and the rest is history.
Un président congratule un roi 👏👏 bravo
Does any one know...does Kevin now remain on the boat for the remainder of the race.. will they have enough supplies for the two of them ?
C'est qui le pauvre type en photo à droite du roi Jean ?
How cool was that Allez les Blues ☘️⚓️☘️
Fantastic
Nice Skype for the 2 boys 😆
The story of a Boat breaking up!! from Aïda Valceanu....
Kevin Escoffier (PRB): The Damage
′′ It's surreal what happened. The boat folded onto itself in a 27 knots wave. I heard a crack but, honestly, there was no need for the noise to understand. I watched the bow, it was 90°. In seconds there was water everywhere. The back of the boat was underwater and the bow was pointing to the sky. The boat broke in half ahead of the mast bulkhead. He fell like folded. I swear, I'm not exaggerating anything... there was a 90° angle between the back and the front of the boat ".
Mayday
′′ I haven't had time to do anything. Just got to text my squad ′′ I'm sinking. This is no joke. MAYDAY ". Between the moment I was on deck setting sails to the moment I ended up in TPS, not even two minutes went by. It's been extreme speed ".
Organize Survival
′′ I got off the boat, put on as I could the GST (survival suit). I saw smoke, the electronics burning. Everything was going down. The only reflex I've had was grabbing the phone to send this message and take the TPS that I never ' matosse '. I wanted to take the ' grab bag ', but I didn't make it because the water was going up.
Took the bib (life raft) in the back. The bib before was not accessible, it was already three meters below the water. Water was in the cockpit all the way to the door ".
Jumping in the raft
′′ I wanted to stay on board a little longer but I could see everything was going very quickly and then I got a swirl and went to the water with the raft
At that point I wasn't reassured at all... You're in a raft with 35 knots of wind. No, this is not reassuring. I was only reassured when I saw Jean. But the problem was how to board him.
We said 2-3 words to each other That was Verdun on the water. He was forced to walk away a little then afterwards I saw he was staying on the area. I stayed in the raft until the early morning ".
The recovery
′′ I didn't know if the weather would soften enough to allow for a manoeuvre He was 2 feet away from me, sent me the french fry with a link but it was hard to stop the boat. Finally I managed to catch a tube, a bar to get on board. There was still sea, about 3,50 feet. It's a test in these conditions to board a 60 ', especially when you're forced into your moves by the TPS. Sincerely, fortunately I'm physically fit because I assure you it's not simple ".
A board by Yes We Cam!
When I found myself on board with Jean, we fell into each other's arms. He said, ′′ Damn, you're on board! It was hot! ". And I said to him, ′′ I fuck your race, you were racing ". He replied: ′′ It's okay, the last time I'm the one had laid down Vincent's race ".
What's next?
′′ So far, I have no idea for the rest. Let's see with the race direction. There I slept good 2 hours, rested, ate. I did everything I could for the boat. I had strengthened it, I did everything, I have no regret over what I did. ′′
Yikes! Seems there is some more engineering to do on the stresses foiling puts on these boats. Having a boat snap in half in the middle of the ocean is a red flag to go back to the drawing board.
New VG boats should not be allowed to take part in the VG race if not have participated in North Atlantic races for one full season; as well they should be inspected and certified by independent yacht designers.... this may reduce such structural disasters.
Wow! Indeed in 2009 it’s PRB boat that rescued Jean LeCam while passing Cap Horn. Jean spotted Kevin in liferaft during day but then lost sight because of waves. He kept looking and found Kevin at night 2AM from light on liferaft.
These carbon boats are not cutting it in the big seas. I think they should be kept to inshore racing.
the foils are at mid ship, probably the weakest part of the boat and also where the keel is , cuorum Out, boss out and now PRB . Old boats with dagger boards are still going! maybe its time to rethink about foils! Great story of seamanship!
that's a sport! the biggest competitors in the race are exactly your chance that you will be rescued in case of distress! Chapeau to all involved in this rescue! ❤️⛵️
amazing they keep trying to save weight when they can barely make it to the souther ocean in 1 piece...amazing skill by the skipper to be able to do all those things in a few secs
they are great sailors! 🥰⛵⚓
Incredible and scary report of what happened, so great that the end is fine! But wondering on how this structural breaking can happen, hull was really so thin built, it is a race in the high latitudes, not a regatta between buoys , architecture should be taking that in consideration ! Hope they had some pressure sensors eventually to understand what happened? ⛵️
Just imagine. Trimming sails to in the raft in the space of a few minutes. The psychological impact of that!!! Crickey.
Scary, glad you are safe😨
Maybe it’s time to build stronger in stead of faster😰
Fantastic seamen! Well done guys! Every man can now see what the real MOB is like!
Well done guys, thank goodness for a safe recovery 👍👍
Glad you made it, truly great to see the team effort and buddy system in place
Foilers or not, racing speeds and impacts puts incredible stress on hull+structure that architects and engineers study and improve on this 4 year cycle. It’s a spectacular show of improvements and « who’s going to make it »!
Ben Lexcen once said if it doesn’t break, it’s too heavy. That may be fine around a race course, but definitely not when racing around the world.
The foils may have been a factor in where it brok in half for the stresses on the area surounding the foils could have caused a vibrational fracture.
Thank goodness Jean managed to get him in. X
Imagine of it happened while he was asleep... very very fortunate he could react so quickly
Soooooo scary!!! Every boater's nightmare
Great rescue effort !
Very pleased that you are safe! 😷🐻🧸❤️
It’ll be interesting to see the structural report on Hugo Boss once it reaches Cape Town. I suspect that we are going to see the demise of a few more foilers in the Southern Ocean I’m afraid.
The full description of Kevin's very scary boat failure last night. Charlotte, Sam 😳
BRAVO and well done to all involved..so HAPPY to see this and well done to Jean Le Cam.. :)
It was with a call from Jean-Jacques Laurent, PRB President, at 2 pm French time that the PRB team was informed of the rescue of Kevin Escoffier by Jean Le Cam. At the PC since the early evening, he attended minute after minute with race director Jacques Cara ës and the entire race management team to all rescue operations deployed to find the PRB skipper, forced to leave the edge around 14 am French time.
′′ He's on board with Jean! We just saw it ". A few quick words with no more detail popped up in the heart of the night. This is a huge relief for the whole team, the family of Kevin and all the cast of the Vendée Globe at sea but also ashore. The hours since Kevin's last message just before he emerged aboard his life raft have been endless. Everything has been done to find the Malouin snuggled in his life raft at the border with the Indian Ocean, 600 miles southwest of Cape de Bonne Espérance.
Kevin has only been spotted aboard Yes We Cam via a live video as Jean Le Cam hooked up his video system during all search operations. No one has yet been able to swap with the PRB skipper who just appeared smiling, fucked up in his survival suit alongside Jean Le Cam. Jacques Cara ës, the race director tells.
′′ We had sent Jean back to a position received by CROSS Gris Nose, position emitted by the EPIRB edge distress beacon. The drift simulation of Météo France also matched this trace. Jean made his way to OOh15 TU (1 am French time) on our order to reach this point at reduced speed. He didn't find anyone at the given position. He then resumed his road south east for three quarter hours - an hour. As he progressed to 1,5 knots in a very small 20-25 knots under wing wind (3 laughs in the Grand Sail and without motor), he disappeared from the screen and we heard him speak. We couldn't see anyone anymore. Then, a few minutes after 1 h0 6 TU is 2 h0 6 French time (time he precisely had to pick Kevin up on board), Jean went down to the card table then we saw Kevin arrive behind his back in combination of survival. They showed up a few seconds in shape both before the video cuts. He's fine. Everybody is fine. They are recovering! ′′ Explains the race director.
On January 6, 2009, during the Vendée Globe, then PRB skipper Vincent Riou saved Jean Le Cam off Cape Horn. This time King Jean manages to come out of a very bad step Kevin Escoffier. Incredible story of an unusual rescue in a definitely extraordinary race!
The whole PRB Team sincerely thanks Jean Le Cam and the three other skippers, Boris Herrmann, Yannick Bestaven and Sébastien Simon for their heroic and relentless efforts to find Kevin, along with the race direction, CROSS Gris Nez and the MRCC Cape Town who remarkably carried out the search operations.
More information to come.
Kevin Escoffier - PRB
🎥 En attendant le récit complet de Kevin, découvrez les premières images du skipper à l'abri à bord de l'IMOCA Yes We Cam! en compagnie de Jean Le Cam. Un échange vous le verrez fort en émotion où Kevin passe du rire aux larmes.
#PRBVoile #VG2020
Fantastic!!!
Wow this is chilling to read and imagine the scene, well done to both skippers and thanks Aida for the translation.
Kudos to all involved! Glad he’s safe onboard.
Great news, well done all involved.
Very well done and great translation!
Jean va mériter une statue au Sable de L.🤣
pas de mots pour vous dire à tous les deux mon admiration, FELICITATIONS à vous deux ainsi qu'à vos équipes
This is great news to wake up to. Yes we Cam!
Superbe un grand grand MERCI au roi JEAN
He do it, because he "CAM".
Bravo King Jean!!! Bravo Kevin!
Fantastic!
Fantastic news Well done
L important c est la vie
Hulde aan deze mannen!
Genial
Kevin Escoffier (PRB): L’avarie « C’est surréaliste ce qui s’est passé. Le bateau s’est replié sur lui-même dans une vague à 27 nœuds. J’ai entendu un crac mais, honnêtement, il n’y avait pas besoin du bruit pour comprendre. J’ai regardé l’étrave, elle était à 90°. En quelques secondes, il y avait de l’eau partout. L’arrière du bateau était sous l’eau et l’étrave pointait vers le ciel. Le bateau s’est cassé en deux en avant de la cloison de mât. Il s’est comme replié. Je vous assure, je n’exagère rien… il y avait un angle de 90° entre l’arrière et l’avant du bateau ». Mayday « Je n’ai rien eu le temps de faire. J’ai juste pu envoyer un message à mon équipe « Je coule. Ce n’est pas une blague. MAYDAY ». Entre le moment où j’étais sur le pont en train de régler les voiles et le moment où je me suis retrouvé en TPS, il s’est passé même pas deux minutes. Ça a été d’une rapidité extrême ». Organiser la survie « Je suis sorti du bateau, j’ai enfilé comme j’ai pu la TPS (combinaison de survie). J’ai vu de la fumée, l’électronique qui cramait. Tout s’éteignait. Le seul réflexe que j’ai eu a été d’attraper le téléphone pour envoyer ce message et prendre la TPS que je ne ‘matosse’ jamais. J’ai voulu prendre le ‘grab bag’ (sac de survie), mais je n’ai pas réussi car l’eau montait. J’ai pris le bib (radeau de survie) à l’arrière. Le bib avant n’était pas accessible, il était déjà trois mètres en dessous de l’eau. L’eau était dans le cockpit jusqu’à la porte ». Saut dans le radeau « J’aurais voulu rester un peu plus longtemps à bord mais je voyais bien que tout allait très vite et puis je me suis pris une déferlante et suis parti à l’eau avec le radeau. A ce moment-là, je n’étais pas du tout rassuré… Tu es dans un radeau avec 35 nœuds de vent. Non, ce n’est pas rassurant. J’ai seulement été rassuré quand j’ai vu Jean. Mais le problème, c’était de savoir comment faire pour monter à bord avec lui. On s’est dit 2-3 mots. C’était Verdun sur l’eau. Il a été contraint de s’éloigner un peu puis après, j’ai vu qu’il restait sur zone. Je suis resté dans le radeau jusqu’au petit matin ». La récupération « Je ne savais pas si la météo allait mollir suffisamment pour permettre une manœuvre. Il était à 2 mètres de moi, il m’a envoyé la frite avec un lien mais c’était dur d’arrêter le bateau. Finalement, j’ai réussi à attraper un tube, une barre pour monter à bord. Il y avait encore de la mer, environ 3,50 mètres. C’est une épreuve dans ces conditions de monter à bord d’un 60’, d’autant plus quand tu es contraint dans tes mouvements par la TPS. Sincèrement, heureusement que je suis en forme physique car je vous assure que ce n’est pas simple ». A bord de Yes We Cam! Quand je me suis retrouvé à bord avec Jean, nous sommes tombés dans les bras l’un de l’autre. Il m’a dit : « Putain, t’es à bord ! C’était chaud ! ». Et moi, je lui ai dit : « Je te nique ta course, tu faisais une super course ». Il m’a répondu : « C’est pas grave, la dernière fois c’est moi qui avait mis à plat la course de Vincent ». La suite ? « Pour l’instant, je n’ai aucune idée pour la suite. On va voir avec la direction de course. Là, j’ai bien dormi 2 heures, me suis reposé, j’ai mangé. J’ai fait tout ce que j’ai pu pour le bateau. Je l’avais renforcé, j’ai tout fait, je n’ai pas de regret par rapport à ce que j’ai fait. »
In my video you have both of the skippers and Jean Le Cam who explain with English subtitles the rescue at the end :) youtu.be/tJa502yViFo
All thoughts and positive energy to all involved....GOOD LUCK!!! #GGR2022🚨 Sauvetage de Kevin Escoffier, le point sur la situation
Voici ce qu’il s’est passé depuis que Kevin Escoffier a déclenché la balise de détresse de son IMOCA PRB, ce lundi 30 novembre à 14h46, dans les Quarantièmes Rugissants, au 22e jour de course du Vendée Globe. Déclenchées aussitôt par la direction de course, les recherches initiées par Jean Le Cam, premier arrivé sur zone, se poursuivent avec le soutien de trois IMOCA également déroutés.
Depuis que Kevin Escoffier a prévenu son équipe à terre qu’une voie d’eau s’était déclarée dans l’IMOCA PRB, ce lundi à 14h46, les opérations de secours ont été déployées, et elles ne cessent de s’étoffer. Avant de quitter le bord, Kevin Escoffier a déclenché la balise de détresse du bateau, signalé à la position 40°55 Sud 9°16 Est au moment de son déclenchement.
Dans les faits, Jean Le Cam a été le premier à être dérouté par la direction de course. A 17 heures, le skipper de Yes We Cam! arrive sur la zone, guidé par la direction de course. Le positionnement de la balise personnelle de Kevin Escoffier (AIS MOB Man Over Board) émet par ondes HF et ne sera repéré que par les concurrents sur zone orientés par la direction de course.
Jean Le Cam navigue avec 3 ris dans la grand-voile, afin de rester mobile dans les vents de 20 nœuds, et les creux de 5 mètres. Un contact visuel est établi ; le skipper de Port-la-Forêt voit le radeau de survie, il voit aussi son partenaire de compétition, vraisemblablement équipé de sa combinaison de survie TPS, et un échange vocal a lieu entre les deux hommes.
Le temps de faire une manœuvre pour revenir au plus près du radeau, Jean le Cam perdra le contact visuel avec Kevin Escoffier, dans cette mer très formée et dans le jour tombant. Depuis, le skipper de Yes We Cam! n’a cessé ses efforts, mais n’a plus réussi à repérer le radeau avec Kevin à son bord et n’a pas capté le signal de l’AIS dont la portée est réduite en raison de la mer formée.
Afin de renforcer les recherches, la direction de course a dérouté trois skippers qui couraient dans le même peloton : Boris Herrmann (SeaExplorer – Yacht de Monaco), Yannick Bestaven (Maître-CoQ), puis Sébastien Simon (ARKEA PAPREC) afin de faciliter les recherches quadrillant la zone. Sur place, Jean Le Cam partage avec la DC les informations sur l’état de la mer, du vent et des courants.
A 21h45, Yannick Bestaven a rallié la zone. Boris Herrmann devrait arriver aux alentours de 23 heures. Sébastien Simon est espéré un peu plus tard. Tous respecteront le protocole établi par la direction de course en lien avec Jean Le Cam sur place soit une approche avec trois ris dans la grand-voile et moteur déplombé. Un process fin de quadrillage de la zone a été établi et sera effectué par les quatre IMOCA venus porter assistance.
L’équipe à terre de PRB précise que, outre son AIS Mob, Kevin Escoffier a également de quoi signaler sa présence dans le radeau de survie. Le jour se lèvera demain matin vers 4h40 HF sur la zone d’investigation.
Les recherches se poursuivent.
Ce communiqué a été rédigé conjointement avec les équipes du Vendée Globe et le Team PRB.
Gods speed to all working for a successful rescue ☘️⚓️☘️
Thinking of you Kevin. Hopefully they can rescue you soon!
Thankfully he’s onboard 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻well done all involved 🙏🙏
Godspeed for all the sailors out there! Our toughts with you. Fight for each other!
Thank you for the news, Don !
Yes we are coming has picked him up today at 2:06 French time
Prayer...
Best wishes
Prayers...
Jean Le Cam had reinforced his status as a legend!!! well done all involved!
🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞courage & force 🤜🏼
He is on board with Le Cam now www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/20690/news-flash-kevin-escoffier-rescued-by-fellow-vendee-globe-compe...
🙏🙏
Alejandro Gutiérrez
A better translation from the vendee globe website: Race Direction of the Vendée Globe requested the assistance of three competing skippers, Germany’s Boris Herrmann (Seaexplorer-Yacht Club de Monaco), Yannick Bestaven (Maître CoQ IV) and Sébastien Simon (ARKEA PAPREC) to help Jean Le Cam (Yes We Cam!) in the mission to retrieve solo skipper Kevin Escoffier from his life raft after the 40 year old from Saint Malo had to abandon his IMOCA 60 PRB this Monday afternoon after activating his distress beacon. Escoffier was racing in third place on the 22nd day of the solo non stop around the world race, at some 840 nautical miles SW of Cape Town, when his PRB got into difficulties and he was forced to take to his liferaft. He alerted his technical team at 1346hrs UTC this afternoon, telling them he had significant amounts of water coming into the boat and immediately triggered his yacht's distress beacon. PRB was positioned at 40deg55S 9deg16E at the time the distress beacon was activated. Race Direction of the Vendée Globe alerted MRCC Cape Town and CROSS Griz Nez who have been collaborating in a rescue operation. The skipper closest to Escoffier’s position, Jean Le Cam, who is competing on his fifth Vendée Globe, immediately responded to the request to divert to Escoffier’s position. Guided by Race Direction Le Cam arrived on zone around 1615hrs UTC and quickly established visual and voice contact with Escoffier who was in his liferaft but he was unable to retrieve him in the big, 5m, seas and 20-25 knot winds. As he was manoeuvring to prepare to get closer to the liferaft Le Cam lost sight of the liferaft and could not establish radio contact nor to pick up the signal from the AIS the range of which was reduced by the heavy seas. He lost sight of Escoffier in the dying light but has continued to try and locate him, Le Cam is communicating regularly with Race Direction and the rescue authorities. The three other skippers are now in, or are approaching the search area. The positioning of Kevin Escoffier's personal beacon (AIS MOB Man Over Board) emits HF radiowaves and will only be detected in the local zone. The four skippers will follow a protocol established by Race Direction in coordination with Jean Le Cam. They will approach with three reefs in the mainsail and the engine idling. A grid search area for the zone has been established and will be carried out by the four IMOCAs who are set to provide assistance. The PRB shore crew said that besides his AIS Mob, Kevin Escoffier also means to signal his presence in the liferaft. Daybreak tomorrow morning is around 0340hrs UTC in this zone and the search will be ongoing. This press release has been drawn up jointly with the Vendée Globe and Team PRB.
In 2008-2009 Vendee Globe, Jean Le Cam was rescued by PRB skipper Vincent Riou. Right now Jean Le Cam is able to repay the favour with the sad news that PRB has been abandoned and the Skipper in a life raft spotted by Jean. Sad news indeed. Good luck to all in the pickup happening around 1730hrs local time.... #GGR2022[FLASH UPDATE]
Jean Le Cam has arrived and sees Kevin Escoffier - PRB in his life raft. He is going to start his engine to go and attempt to pick him up.
I fear that the foilers will have issues that will force them out. Real fast but the combination of stress and time is showing in the structures, both hull and canard seem to be breaking apart. Originally I thought Thompson was the one to beat but if the foilers make it back to the Atlantic, they'll be limping. LeCam is the one to watch now. LeCam is by far in the best position and he's due. “As you get older it is harder to have heroes, but it is sort of necessary" Hemmingway
Kevin is safe !!! He has been rescued by the King Jean indeed !
Le Cam is certainly the hero of the race so far!
So sad but glad they safe
BRAVO MR LE CAM . QUEL DOMMAGE POUR VOTRE COURSE
Does this mean his race is over? Le Cam I mean
SO sad😢💕
Hi, how big are the engines in these boats? How fast can they travel under engine? Thanks 🙏
Yes the BOSS is out of the Vendée Globe I did not want to SHARE the News, cause it is everywhere and this is the Golden Globe site. I wanted him to win...Yes the #GGR2022 is a different animal, but personally I love the extreme Vendee for what it is. The high tech and drama. You have to be impressed with the eyewatering budgets now crashed. It is a complicated matrix to win the Vendee. A Fine line between success and Disaster. I Had to share this post from another competitor. It says it all.....The spirit of the GGR and Vendee while worlds apAlex Thomson Racingery similar.. :( ...all the best Alex Thomson Racing.....The BOSS will be back 👊
Depuis deux semaines, je passe chaque jour par beaucoup d’émotions et je trouve épouvantablement difficile cette position reculée, loin derrière tout le monde. Mais depuis ce samedi à la mi-journée, je ne me plains plus. Je n’en ai plus le droit. Car le Vendée Globe a perdu l’un de ses favoris, Alex Thomson Racing qui fait route vers Cape Town.
Mais notre course a perdu plus que cela. Alex a révolutionné notre sport : ses bateaux sont toujours les plus beaux et ont un temps d’avance sur ceux de ses concurrents. Alex a modernisé la communication autour de la voile en faisant sauter toutes les barrières : Keel Walk, Mast Walk, Sky Walk. Il y a lui et les autres.
Le Vendée Globe a besoin d’une victoire d’Alex Thomson. J’espère que ce sera pour 2024. Et en plus de tout cela, Alex est sympa et modeste. La course perd donc un favori mais aussi un grand monsieur aujourd’hui !
Je pense bien à lui et à toute son équipe 😢
I hope so for Alex Thank you F Amedeo for your beautiful words.
Yes Capt HBoss , I hope to see you soon again , things happened, maybe find the right speed in this Atlantic , good luck for the Future , and Bravo again and arrive safe in the Cap👍✌️⛵️
Il devrait mettre à profit sa belle image pour sensibiliser à l’état de dégradation du milieu marin vu ce qui lui est arrivé
Maybe Alex could try the Golden Globe Race while waiting for his 6th shot at the Vendee
Merci Fabrice, élégant et fair-play
Now it’s up to you😜
El jefe es el mar
Bien dit well said...
Your post is very interesting, Don, thank you 🙏
Well said Don. Yep when the sea decides your boat is not going to play on it there is nothing you can do about it. Great he and boat are ok to limp into Cape Town.
Don you did it , the strategy is to press fast in good conditions or all conditions or keep the boat in one piece until New Zealand or somewhere else ? JLC is doing a great race with an older boat doing apparently a more straight course..are these newer boats more fragile ?
Pity ... Such a hard time for all of the Boss gang after all there work.
Sad for Alex. 🙁 Now Sam Davies must take up 🇬🇧 for Team GB! 👍
Top sportsmanship. Roll on 2024.
I love watching all the Hugo Boss stuff (excluding the fact they're out for now), and I love the attached post - thank you!
Great words
This week is the two year anniversary of the big storm that knocked out Abilash Tomy and Gregor...the conditions are completely different today for the Virtual GGR Fleet with a delayed arrival
into the Southern Ocean from a delayed start in Les Sables d'Olonne. Very interesting. THANKS Mike :) #GGR2022
Chilling memories ☘️⚓️☘️
Chilling times indeed especially as Gregor, under jury rig himself, was slowly making his way to Tommy's aid as a backup to Osiris which rescued them both. It was a wild ride for us GGR tragics at the time.
He must be a Jolly Good fellow??? :) ..#GGR2022
Ian HJ Sailing Golden Globe Race
An unusual but exciting update this week, as I’m very pleased to report that I have been confirmed as an Associate Fellow of the The Royal Institute of Navigation (RIN).More details on the link below.
Xmas Present??..it is actually an interesting read and also available now in English on Amazon..:) Aida Ogrm/1677805628896648">#GGR2022 or message Aida Ogr if you need a signed copy ?? in the post..
Oh, thank you, Don !!! 🙏🤗☀️
It is going to be a great adventure and the clock is ticking :) #GGR2022Last week we got together with friend and super videographer Carlo Boghi to gather a bit of video and photo material for the future video needs of the campaign. We were super lucky, considering the time of year, to stumble upon a classic Gulf of Punta Ala day with 20-22 knots of Mistral and great light conditions. Soooo stoked !
Good to see the first GGR entrant actually make an effort to get Mag Quality pics!! :) thanks....well done..
Great pics! I also note hanked on jib, salty sailor!
Nice Pics!
An interesting assessment of the current Vendée Globe completely different than the #GGR2022.......Quote JL VDH......Funding, the nerve of the race
Money, the backbone of the competition , explains VDH: " Today, I am saddened by the fact that money makes the race. The result depends on the money we have found. Nothing is ever true. written in advance, anything can happen along the way. But the actual race begins well before mid-November, in the offices of the bankers, by the search for the enormous financing necessary for the manufacture of these boats. not cap the budgets allocated to boats. It would not make sense, because the value of a boat changes over time, regardless of the technology. I do not want and cannot give advice to the organizers . "
On the evolution of boats, the navigator explains " Man feels the need to evolve, in everything. He wants to go faster, higher or further. It is the same with ocean racing. Carbon is The ketches have completely disappeared. The same goes for the steel shrouds. Then the tilting keels, the foils. Racing has become the prerogative of those who have the financial means to build the most technological boat. boats are technicians, engineers, people who have sensors, computers. Fortunately, there are still the legs, the navigators, on board, shaken and abused as always. And even more and more, the faster, the more uncomfortable it is. "
I can't quite pronounce the name tell him to ask Robin Knox Johnson
Yes it is...! Money for tecnologie, as nasa, F1, moto gp, american's cup.... why not ? This is the right way to spend money!!
Bit of a negative miserable view . There are plenty of sailors competitive in this Vendee in second hand boats and small budgets. It’s a fantastic race with a wonderful spirit and as someone who sails traditional boats professionally, I love to get immersed in all worlds of sailing. You don’t often see or hear Vendee Sailors complaining about old farts spending all their time and money on varnish, old rope, bronze winches and hemp sails, so it would be nice for Golden Globers to join the rest of us in supporting the fantastic sailors out there in the Vendee
I respect and admire the technological level, beauty and speed of Vendée Globe 'flyers' but, VG's statement, repeated in all announcements word by word, would justify some comment from Golden Globe. "The Vendée Globe is the only sailing race round the world that’s solo, non-stop, and without assistance..." etc. Well, not true. Even if allowing one mooring stop, without supplies (not excluded by VG rules either), GG's restrictions of external assistance are fare more rigorous.
Look forward to seeing the relaunch in five months...this story makes me smile every time.. :) and reflects the support of the Les Sables d'Olonne community for #GGR2022....BRAVO..
actu.fr
Les élèves du lycée professionnel Tabarly aux Sables-d'Olonne ont la chance de travailler sur un bateau qui participera à la prochaine édition de la Golden Globe Race en 2022.The Virtual #GGR2022 fleet enters the Southern Ocean...in todays weather...thanks MIKE!! :) ...so far so good and only really one since the start...how long will it last??
The Vendée Globe has always been popular but!!! here is the latest!! and we know the #GGR2022 from Les Sables d'Olonne will be much bigger than 2018...
The Vendée Globe more followed than the Tour de France cyclist or Roland-Garros? It is not a joke, it is a poll carried out by Odoxa for RTL and Winamax which says it. 48% of French people will follow the “adventure” of skippers around the world.
According to an Odoxa poll for RTL and Winamax (on a panel of 1,005 representative people) , the Vendée Globe would be more followed than the Tour de France or Roland Garros. If 46% of French people say they follow the Tour de France cyclist and 42% the matches of Roland-Garros, they would be 48% to say they follow the tour of the world alone and non-stop. According to this same poll, every four years, the public would be interested in these “adventurers” (89%) “courageous” (89%) but a little crazy (49%) nonetheless. For this 9th edition, the favorite of the French is a Welshman: Alex Thomson (19%) ahead of Armel Tripon (18%) and Jérémie Beyou (13%). Finally still according to this Odoxa poll for RTL, the one who marked this extreme race is Michel Desjoyeaux, the only double winner (2001 and 2009).
Vendée Globe. Avoir du Pot… ou pas ! [Vidéo]
letelegramme.fr
C’est au 9e jour de course que les premiers ont abordé le fameux Pot au noir, mardi. Sans trop savoir à quelle sauce ils allaient être mangés. Leur objectif : y rester le moins longtemps possible. Le météorologue Jean-Yves Bernot dit qu’« a priori, ça semble plus sympa pour ceux de devan...I find it simply amazing that the Vendee Globe official site uses google translate to give us the english version of the articles they post. I mean I hope it's the google translator, because otherwise we're dealing with a person who has been translating washing machine manuals in order to be able to afford excesive quantities of french wine.
Wow!
Golden Globe Race will you be running a Virtual race alongside the real race, as they have with the Vendee?
If you have not yet seen this 25minute Promo Doco for the "other" solo around the world race from Les Sables d'Olonne here it is and your sure to enjoy it! ...It is the formula 1 of solo sailing. The #GGR2022 is more like the World Rally Championship :) .....Between the large number of new generation foiling boats, the record number of female participants, and the global pandemic, one thing is certain; this editi...
This is a great collaboration in Les Sables d'Olonne with the students at the Tabarly polytechnic :) BRAVO!! #GGR2022
The talk is getting stronger and "if" this happens, ( I believe it will) it will be a game changer and could even impact the 2022 GGR...it will certainly take out the issue of GGR boats being too small to carry Expensive, unreliable satellite transmitting gear, that tells a GPS position onboard...none of that happens when your talking on SKYPE...so the only issue will be one of maintaining solitude for the skipper....and what that really means? A Skype call to family friends or experts on shore to discuss problems ( as in the Vendée Globe) is in real terms a huge level of assistance to the skipper...and therefore not really unassisted?? by the definition of the #GGR2022...or is it unassisted??...I think followers of the GGR would love it but are we playing with the core values of the Golden Globe...I feel we would be?? ...always interested in opinions of the GGR family..as decisions will need to be made going forward :) ..thanks.
SpaceX Starlink: Will it work at sea? Elon Musk weighs in
inverse.com
SpaceX's internet connection service is expected to get rural communities online, but will it help sea-faring net surfers too?Hi Don, I think great consideration has gone into maintaining the integrity of the original GGR and it had us at the edge of our seats for the duration of the race in 2018. The comms provision was well and truly tested by the numerous major race incidents which were managed expertly. We couldn’t have been kept better informed whilst still preserving the sense or adventure and imagination that makes the GGR the unique event it is. Stay special, there is no going back. ☘️⚓️☘️
Hi Don, I think the GGR was perfect the way it was , and the drama of waiting for updates from you without the pictures added to the drama and excitement. Compared to the Vendee Globe where we get around the clock footage that becomes boring. Stick with the KISS principal
How about totally unassissted, no calls but they can stream movies ;)
It is important that we at home see Videos more frequently. Seeing old pictures from before the start and hearing radio interviews will not convince us in 2022 to become followers.
Chris James
I would think this should be prohibited. Only communication and assistance between compettitors. What would be possible and very nice is voice/video messages that you check as organiser. Because i really doubt this super 8 stuff helps you. Just let them have a GoPro and the means to send data Just to the organiser. Great footage and news updates as a bonus. Because SSB is not what it used to be with all the radio traffic.
But you could do the same with iridium go now if you wanted... (put the go in a padlock box, limit functionality etc) I thought the issue was that wasn’t in tune with the ethos of the race?
If I would sail the GGR the splendid isolation would be a big part of the fun!
the GGR niche (talking marketing here) should be completely un-unassisted unless innmediate life threatening situaitons about to come (huge storm, ice, etc). it should also be about production boats to avoid falling on the "budget" race (those with money have a quicker boat). what i do think GGR should include is better real-time tracking (positions, boat pitch, temperature, humidity, etc) and documenting capabilities (on board cameras) for the people (not the sailors) in land to follow the race. the technology is there and is very affordable now-a-daways. telemtry is very light (power-wise and bandwidth) and current satellite networks can easily deal with them. video is another story... i love yuor work but not having a documentary about the story you built is a crime.
I think the proverbial cat was out of the bag long ago. Even the original Golden Globe race allowed for basic technology of the time like radios. The last GGR saw problems with position reports being given over radio. I think the spirt of the GGR can easily be maintained with a reasonably low cap on price of electronic equipment allowed on board. To me, the spirt is to have an entry price to the race that could be attainable to anyone with the skill to make the attempt - as opposed to the millions of dollars it costs to enter the Vendee Globe. A good skipper today could circle the globe with a simple cell phone with a navigation app and weather while not diminishing the accomplishment by living in the cave era.
Once these new systems would be allowed what is to stop people giving away other competitors positions/route even by mistake and clouding the unassisted status. Emergency situations are already covered, and worked in the 2018 race. As in the saying " If it is not broke don't fix it".
The GGR is perfect as it is.... so, no need to change a thing...
Concur with most said about being self reliant. Adding Starlink, as it's meant to be, would take too much away form GGR. That said if there's away to connect only video feed and direct GGR link on the boats that could benefit the followers. Another problem this brings is the power requirements and how it's arranged?
I think making a call to shore, whether audio or visual would count as assisted. Kay Cottee's book about her solo non-stop circumnavigation is full of examples where calls to friends and family helped her achieve her voyage, as the mental support was significant. Im sure she would have achieved it anyway, but it would have been a very different experience. The GGR is firstly for the competitors and then for aspirants and followers. Those interested in the concept will enjoy following the sailors, even with limited coverage, which is excellent anyway. Placing a requirement on sailors to supply live footage will be both a burden for them and provide them with mental support. Let's not become PR clones or do things (tech) just because it's possible. Keep it pure, about the skippers fulfilling themselves. Great work GGR team.
Let the sailors solve their own problems at sea. Keep the airwaves silent except for distress calls.
Hi Don, I know where you are coming from...and it is indeed a real (and open) question to embark modern communication tech. Nevertheless, we (skipper) came in 2018 for the true spirit of that race and I hope it will remain as it is. However I like the comment on improving "better real-time tracking and documenting" for the followers. What do you think? I like it. It is a great opportunity to share skipper's daily life without compromissing the "unassisted" side of the race. See Alex Thompson hub...
Can't wait for it!
