A Hallberg-Rassy has sunk off the Breton Atlantic coast after running aground. The incident occurred during the night of 22 to 23 July off Cap de la Chèvre near Crozon. The skipper, who was alone on board, managed to abandon the yacht in time and take refuge on a rock. There, he was rescued by emergency services from the CROSS Maritime Rescue Centre He was spotted and rescued at around 2 am by a French Navy helicopter using a winch. The crew then took him to a hospital in Brest for medical treatment.
No further details are available as yet regarding the skipper’s condition or the exact cause of the grounding.
An H160 helicopter from the French Navy was deployed, along with two sea rescue vessels from the SNSM station at Camaret-sur-Mer: the SNS 097 “Notre-Dame de Rocamadour” and the SNS 723 “Tai Bihan”.
Cause of the grounding still unclear
It is not yet known how the vessel ran aground. The French authorities have not yet provided any information as to whether the accident was caused by a navigational error, a technical fault or other circumstances.
According to the information available so far, the weather conditions that night were moderate. Winds from the west to north-west were reported, with gusts of around 15 to 25 km/h, temperatures between 16 and 17 degrees, and a mostly cloudy sky with occasional showers.
Rocky coastline at Cap de la Chèvre
Cap de la Chèvre forms the southern tip of the Crozon Peninsula. This stretch of coastline is characterised by steep cliffs, offshore hazards and the tides of the Atlantic. Particularly at night, navigating close to the coast requires constant monitoring of one’s position and maintaining a safe distance from known shoals.
Brittany is generally regarded as a sailing area characterised by strong tides and challenging navigation. In the regional report on Brittany In particular, rocky stretches of coastline, shoals and strong tidal currents are described as key factors to be taken into account when planning a sailing trip.
For cruising sailors, careful navigation in such areas is one of the most important safety factors. Particularly at night, it is often difficult to accurately judge distances, landmarks and danger zones. This makes it all the more important to plan tide levels and currents carefully in advance, to identify critical waypoints, to maintain a safe distance from the coast and to monitor your position continuously.
If a vessel runs aground near the coast and water subsequently enters the hull, there is usually very little time to bring the situation under control. In such cases, the following applies: make an emergency call as soon as possible, prioritise the safety of the crew and your own safety, take immediate action to stem the leak, and prepare in good time to abandon the vessel if necessary.
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