EURE & LOIR - LORENOVE CAPSIZES, GITANA X BREAKS TOP OF MAST

Lionel Lemonchois/GITANA X with his mast on the deck

At 01.30 hrs this morning Francis Joyon on Eure & Loire - Lorénove confirmed to the Route du Rhum organizers that he had just capsized. He was 175 miles from Corogne (Cape of Finisterre, Spain). The skipper is OK, onboard, and has not asked for assistance.

Joyon was sailing close-hauled in a very rough sea and at the foot of the mast when he was hit by a squall. "The boat was immediately lifted on one float and I rushed to the cockpit, but I did not have time to ease the sheets. The boat capsized in two seconds. At the moment I am hiding in the cockpit and I am trying to empty the boat with water. I will ask assistance from a tow boat. We will arrange all that today. Anyway I will not set off the distress beacon. I will stay on my boat, and I am not in distress and I do not need any further assistance."

Gitana X broke the top of its mast at 18.30 CET Monday night, practically in the middle of the Bay of Biscay. Skipper Lionel Lemonchois is on his way to La Trinité Sur Mer. Lemonchois was sailing with a stay sail and two reefs in the mainsail in 25 knots of wind and four metre waves, when approximately seven metres of the top of the mast broke off.

Belgacom skippered by Jean Luc Nélias has turned around and is heading towards Port La Foret. Last night Nélias discovered he had problems with the main sail track. The sail is blocked at the top of the mast, and he cannot sail close-hauled. He will arrive in Port La Foret this evening.

Bayer Crop Science will arrive in La Trinité Sur Mer this afternoon - Frederic Le Peutrec is having problems with his autopilot.

10 multihulls out of 18 are now on their way across the Atlantic. Four have abandoned so far.

In the monohulls, Yannick Bestaven (République Dominicaine), has been delivered a second blow. After the incredible recovery from his seven hour delay at the start with a torn mainsail, he was leading his class yesterday when he heard cracking noises from the keel; he is now heading head towards Lorient.

The 50-foot monohull Défi Vendéen is turning back to Sable d'Olonne as it is taking on water.


Leading boats 07.00 GMT:

ORMA 60' multihulls:
Yvan Bourgnon Rexona Men, with Thomas Coville Sodebo and Loick Peyron Fujifilm close behind.

IMOCA 60' monohulls:
Roland Jordain Sill Mike Golding Ecover and Ellen MacArthur Kingfisher 13 resp. 24 miles behind the leader

Class 2 50' monohulls: Nick Moloney Ashfield Healthcare
Class 3 40' monohulls: Régis Guillemot Storagetek
Class 2 50' multihulls: Frank Yves Escoffier Crepes Whaou!

Abandonments (nine so far):

ORMA 60' multihulls: Franck Cammas Groupama, Bertrand De Broc Banque Covefi, Lionel Lemonchois Gitana X, Francis Joyon Eure et Loire-Lorenove
IMOCA 60' monohulls: Loick Pochet La Rage de Vivre
Class 2 50' monohulls: Christophe Huchet APIC A3S
Class 3 40' monohulls: none
Class 2 50' multihulls: Didier Le Villain Chaleur Fioul Elan, Pascal Quentin E-Sat Tri Séléctif

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