"Francis Joyon is doing well inside his capsized boat," states Route du Rhum race director

Two cargo ships are being diverted to assist the navigator who capsized on Monday 200 miles southwest of Ireland.

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"Francis Joyon is doing well inside his capsized boat, he is sheltered, and we are in regular contact with him as well as with the rescue services," declared Francis Le Goff, the race director of the Route du Rhum, on franceinfo on the evening of Monday, November 2. The sailor capsized on Monday afternoon. Francis Le Goff announced that two cargo ships have diverted and are arriving at the scene. Francis Joyon is currently located 200 miles southwest of Ireland.

"His boat was sailing in 20-knot conditions, and he was quite calm with a reef in the mainsail; it was a gust [a sudden increase in wind] that caused the boat to flip just after 2:30 p.m., French time," the race director recounted. "Francis Joyon is one of the most experienced sailors in this Route du Rhum 'Destination Guadeloupe'," emphasized Francis Le Goff, recalling that not only did he win the Route du Rhum in 2018, but he has also experienced a capsize before.

"He is an experienced sailor both in victory and in capsizing, which reassures us, because he knows exactly the right actions and reactions to take aboard his boat."Francis Le Goff, Route du Rhum race directoron franceinfo

on franceinfo

"Let's hope now that the wind and sea conditions will allow the cargo ship's captain to successfully carry out [the] [rescue] operations," added the race director. These rescue operations will be conducted with extreme caution. "They will first evaluate the situation," Francis Le Goff explained. "The idea is to break the waves with the cargo ship, placing it to the windward side, creating a sort of small calm area around the boat. If the conditions are favorable, the cargo ship can then lower a small craft to reach Francis Joyon, specifically avoiding bringing the cargo ship alongside [his] trimaran." The 13th Route du Rhum, a solo transatlantic race towards Guadeloupe, set off on Sunday from Saint-Malo.

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