The Frenchman was sailing at around 17 knots this morning at 08:20 when he hit flotsam and badly damaged the starboard foil and its centreboard box. It looks as if the lower part of the centreboard, a structurally elementary part of the boat, has been torn off the hull and "Arkéa Paprec" is taking on a lot of water. In a video he sent from on board, the water is already sloshing through the boat. A critical situation in view of the fact that a storm of 30 to 40 knots and correspondingly high swell is expected for tonight and tomorrow.
Sébastien Simon shows the damage to the foil and boat
Simon has heeled the boat over to the other side with the swing keel in an attempt to minimise water ingress. In the worst-case scenario, if the entire centreboard box were to tear out, which is probably already starting to detach from the hull, the boat could sink. He has now headed north to avoid the worst of today's storm.
Andreas Fritsch
Editor Travel
