Sea, Sail & Surf news
Route du Rhum - La Banque Postale
Sidney Gavignet activates distress beacon
Oman Air Majan dismasts • Skipper picked up by a bulk carrier
Wednesday 3 November 2010 –
All the versions of this article: [English] [français]
Oman Air Majan was sailing in headwinds of 20 knots, but the conditions were not extreme.
Sidney Gavignet has activated his distress beacon. He has put on his survival suit and is uninjured. He is in the central pod and is clear of the water.
Course Director Jean Maurel is in contact with the Poruguese MRCC to coordinate the rescue and is in permanent contact with Sidney and his shore team.
8:50 pm : Gavignet Rescued
As outlined in the last statement at 18: 30 CET (GMT+1), OMAN AIR MAJAN received substantial damage to the leeward front beam, and it is confirmed that OMAN AIR MAJAN has lost her mast. The port float is under the main beam; due to the serious nature of damage, and the uncertainty, the skipper Sidney Gavignet has made the difficult decision to abandon the boat.
At 20: 51 CET (GMT+1) skipper Sidney Gavignet was picked up by a bulk carrier called Cavo Alexander which was en route to Turkey. Sidney is safe and well and is in contact with his shore team via satellite phone. The bulk carrier is 840 miles from Gibralter and is expected there in two days.
Oman Air Majan is being tracked via its iridium-tracking device and a salvage operation is well under way.
Also in this section
Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale : Bertrand Quentin lifted off by helicopter at 1140hrs
Giant : Sidney Gavignet : "this record is the cherry on the cake"
Trimaran Sodeb’O : Thomas Coville : "the boat will become lighter"
Solo round the world record : Thomas Coville back to Brest after 59d 20h
