Proceedings: The case of a hero - Kevin Escoffier announces appeal after judgement
Tatjana Pokorny
· 21.10.2023
First the French daily newspaper "Le Parisien" reported, then the renowned news agency Agence France Presse (AFP): Following a hearing on 9 October, the French Sailing Federation FFVoile has now banned Kevin Escoffier for 18 months on 20 October. A five-year suspended licence was also imposed. Kevin Escoffier is also ineligible for election to official bodies of the association for ten years.
"Inappropriate behaviour towards women" and "sexual assault"
The disciplinary commission's verdict follows a hearing on 9 October and months of discussion both in front of and behind the scenes. It centred on what allegedly happened at the Ocean Race stopover in a bar in Newport. Escoffier was accused of "inappropriate behaviour towards women" and "sexual assault" in this and later other cases. His post as "Holcim - PRB" skipper one day before the harbour race in Aarhus, Denmark, on the evening of 3 June.
In a post that he later deleted, Kevin Escoffier briefly stated: "I have decided to step down from my duties as skipper until the end of this edition of the Ocean Race. I am stepping down as a result of an alleged incident." YACHT first reported on the case here. Specifically, as soon became clear, it was about an allegation of misconduct against a member of his team on the evening of 15 May at a party in The Fastnet pub in Newport.
Escoffier on the sidelines
While the Ocean Race fleet started its fifth leg on 21 May, with the US team 11th Hour Racing finishing ahead of Kevin Escoffier's Team Holcim - PRB won, talk, discussion and excitement about the Newport incident on land steadily increased. Without referring to the background, Team Holcim - PRB presented a new crew for stage six under the leadership of Benjamin Schwartz following Escoffier's resignation in Aarhus. Kevin Escoffier moved to the sidelines unnamed.
Soon afterwards, the intervention of the FFVoile president caused new movement in the Escoffier case. Jean-Luc Denécheau wanted to know more about what had happened after the various statements. Denécheau told the daily newspaper "Le Télégramme": "The dissonance challenged me. I made a few calls, which made me realise very quickly that the 'alleged incident' mentioned by Kevin was inappropriate behaviour towards a young woman during a stopover in Newport."
Escoffier plans appeal
Based on the information he received from "reliable sources", Denécheau brought the case before a commission of enquiry of the federation and also reported to the French Ministry of Sport. The investigating commission has now reached its judgement. The testimony of the young woman involved in the incident in Newport, which was provided to the federation as part of the proceedings, also contributed to this.
According to a statement made by his lawyer Virginie Le Roy to AFP, Kevin Escoffier intends to take legal action against the judgement. She told AFP that he denies the allegations "in the strongest terms" and will appeal against the ban in the expectation of being "completely exonerated". Kevin Escoffier did not initially make any comments of his own.
Team Holcim - PRB with a new line-up on course for the Vendée Globe and Ocean Race
His former team Holcim - PRB has long since reorganised itself. Ex-Malician Nico Lunven is sailing towards his premiere as Vendée Globe skipper for the Swiss team. Rosalin Kuiper is the designated skipper for Team Holcim - PRB's planned participation in the Ocean Race Europe. With this line-up and an almost completely new team, the Swiss want to leave the Escoffier chapter behind them as sympathetically and successfully as possible.
Kevin Escoffier, meanwhile, is still grappling with the question of what his path into the future might look like. He has to deal with two camps: Some condemn him as an abusive, unacceptable sportsman who must be made an example of in the necessary fight against sexual assault in sport and society. It is undoubtedly an important fight. The FFVoile has publicised its broad-based commitment against "violence in sport" on its homepage as Directly clickable topic stored. Several pages explain in detail where those affected can turn.
The other side of the sailor and man Escoffier
But others continue to value Kevin Escoffier's expertise - and also the people beyond his now convicted and punished misconduct. Ocean Race record holder Abby Ehler, Kevin Escoffier's team-mate in the Ocean Race until his retirement, wrote the following comment at the end of the team race around the world and before the judgement was passed when asked for a comment on her controversial ex-skipper:
"I first met Kevin in November 2022, just before the repatriation from Guadeloupe back to Alicante, and joined the team in December. I thought that as a solo sailor Kevin would have a predominantly autocratic leadership style as he knows the boat so well, but the opposite is the case: he creates a very open and encouraging atmosphere.
In the more than 45 days I spent at sea with Kevin and his team - mostly in arduous and physically demanding conditions - we treated each other with the utmost respect" Abby Ehler
His energy and passion for the sport and the campaign are infectious. In fact, I've never met anyone with as much energy as Kevin. 'Sonic the Hedgehog' would struggle to keep up. Kevin is 100 per cent on board, whether he's grinding a sail, stacking or brushing his teeth - a trait that suits offshore sailing very well, both with a team and on his own.
In the 45+ days I spent at sea with Kevin and his team - mostly in arduous, physically demanding conditions - we treated each other with the utmost respect and gave each other privacy when needed (which is sometimes difficult when you live in a shoebox). Kevin challenged me in a positive way to learn, grow and improve as a sailor. I am immensely grateful for this opportunity to join the Imoca class and very much look forward to sailing with him again in the future."
Is reconciliation possible?
Can there be a path to return and reconciliation for the fallen hero in the contradiction of extremes? In recent weeks, the Breton has been in action several times as a coach in Imoca circles. His work is highly regarded in terms of content. However, he will hardly be able to count on winning the favour of new sponsors for his own projects in the foreseeable future.
With his dream of taking part in the upcoming Vendée Globe shattered, the loss of his once enthusiastic partners, his tarnished image and the FFVoile's judgement, Kevin Escoffier is suffering the professional consequences of his alleged behaviour. To this extent deserved or not: the appeal proceedings against the FFVoile's disciplinary sanctions remain to be seen.
