At 1345 (UTC) on Monday 30 November, on a grey and lumpy South Atlantic some 840 miles south-west of Cape Town, Kevin Escoffier was 3rd in the singlehanded Vendée Globe when his boat, the IMOCA 60 PRB, suddenly and catastrophically broke up. Escoffier had time only to send a three line Whatsapp message to his shore team before all communication with the boat was lost. It would be 11 hours before anyone on land heard from him again.
Before he had any indication anything was wrong, Escoffier was racing fast in 22-25 knot south-westerlies. He was around 20 miles behind 2nd placed LinkedOut, with Jean Le Cam in 4th around 25 miles behind.
While some skippers had been plagued by gear damage, PRB was in good shape. The only problem Escoffier had had to deal with was a valve failure in a foil well a couple of weeks previously, which he joked had turned his boat into ‘jacuzzi mode’ as water sloshed around inside. Escoffier fixed the valve and raced on, moving up to 3rd as he approached the Cape of Good Hope.
This story is from the February 2021 edition of Yachting World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 2021 edition of Yachting World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
EXTRAORDINARY BOATS: NIGEL SHARP ON THE YACHTING WORLD DIAMOND
The Yachting World Diamond is a Jack Holt design which continues to attract devotees who sail them on some extraordinary adventures - in Australia, 60 years after its conception
5 EXPERT TIPS: CHRIS BROOKS ON SAILING OFFSHORE IN BIG CONDITIONS
Sailing in the middle of the world's oceans gave Chris Brooks plenty of experience handling big weather conditions. He shares his knowledge here with Andy Rice.
NAVIGATION BRIEFING
Inaugurated in 2009, the RORC Caribbean 600 is a relatively recent addition to the calendar of 600-mile offshore yacht races, adding to the list of established bluewater classics like the Rolex Fastnet and Sydney Hobart races.
SPECIAL REPORT: MARK CHISNELL ON PROBLEM SOLVING AT SEA
On his new book, Knowledge 2.0, author Mark Chisnell - who has been published on a wide range of topics and is also a former professional sailor, navigator, and most recently a rules advisor for the British America's Cup challenge INEOS Britannia - offers a 'user's guide to knowledge'.
NIKKI HENDERSON
NO MATTER HOW TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED OUR SPORT GETS, IT'S THE HUMANS THAT MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
MATTHEW SHEAHAN
HURTLING AROUND THE OCEANS ALONE IN GARGANTUAN MULTIHULLS CAPABLE OF HUGE SPEEDS AND UNTHINKABLE CAPSIZES - REQUIRES A MENTAL LEAP
Ainslie steps down as SailGP driver
Sir Ben Ainslie, who is both CEO, skipper and co-helmsman of the British America's Cup team INEOS Britannia, and CEO and skipper of the SailGP entry.
Around the world in company
January 2024 saw two fleets of cruisers set off on a sociable circumnavigation, with the 13th edition of the World ARC departing Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia, meanwhile the Oyster World Rally fleet also began their world tour from Nelson's Dockyard, Antigua.
Ocean Globe Race skipper quits after false declaration
The third leg of the Ocean Globe Race, the Whitbread-era-style around the world race, is underway from Auckland, New Zealand to Punta del Este, Uruguay on a classic Southern Ocean leg. However, the skipper of race leaders Translated 9, the Swan 65 which won both Legs 1 and 2, has stepped down after breaching the race rules regarding sail repairs and making a false declaration.
Cruisers awarded
Kirsten Neuschäfer, the winner of the Golden Globe Race and the first woman ever to win a solo nonstop around the world ocean race, is among the skippers honoured in the Cruising Club of America's 2023 awards.
