After setting the solo transatlantic record yesterday, Francis Joyon turned IDEC toward France and went below for a little nap. Exhausted as only a solo record-breaking sailor can be, he, umm, overslept and woke up only when his 90-foot tri ground ashore on the rocks of the Brittany coast. Joyon was rescued, but IDEC is believed to be a total wreck, losing her mast and slowly disintegrating into pieces. The Daily Sail (subscription only, but well worth the price) has a full report. Here’s just a bit of it:
This disaster may have been averted had Joyon taken crew on board at the Lizard to help him deliver the boat back to the Lizard, but as one close friend commented: “Of course he is used to doing things by himself. He prepared the boat by himself, he painted the boat by himself, he went to New York by himself, he took the boat to the start line by himself – that is the way he is.” However this in no way questions Joyon’s seamanship – there was nothing remarkable about Joyon delivering his boat up and down this coast, something he had done on many previous occasions. Only this time he was exceedingly tired as he negotiated a treacherous part of the Breton coast.
Fortunately Joyon is safe and unhurt, but this is a terrible end for a boat that by rights should have been put into a museum for the incredible achievements she had made during her lifetime. 19 years old the IDEC trimaran must have one of the highest mileages of any race boat and was rapidly reaching the end of her life.
It’s a sad end to a great boat, though there wasn’t much left for Joyon to do with IDEC in the record-breaking game. Hope the thing was insured. It would be nice to see Joyon appear down the road with a newer, modern design…
[Update–Joyon on the tragedy: “After crossing the finish off The Lizard, I headed for the “Four Channel” (editor’s note – near Ushant off Western Brittany), then went through the Raz de Sein during the evening… As I had planned to reach La Trinité during the morning, I decided to slow the boat down a bit, by reducing the canvas, and with the wind aft, I was on a bearing well off Penmarc’h Point– about 30° to the right. As I hadn’t managed to get any sleep for a long time, when I did fall asleep, it was very deep… I was using the autopilot, and I think it must have taken her off course, as happened once or twice during the record – but I wasn’t going fast enough this time to be warned of the change. I suddenly woke up, when I heard a huge crash, when the boat came down in the breakers between a 6 metre high rock to my left and another one to my right. I was stuck there in the middle. I had managed to go aground on the most vicious rocks you can find off Penmarc’h Point. I think it must have been around one in the morning, and I immediately radioed a Mayday, as I thought I was on some rocks a little further out to sea. I didn’t think for one moment that the boat had turned in towards the coast. In the pitch black conditions, I gave my position and the coastguards service in Corsen told me that the rescue service was on their way, and that the boat could be reached on foot! They helped me ashore in amongst the rocks… I didn’t know what was going on for an hour or so, and I let them take care of me, which isn’t at all like me. As the rescue team saw I was in shock, and not very coherent, they suggested I go to hospital– I was examined for three hours in Pont L’Abbé. My brother came to see me at four in the morning, and we went back to the boat to try to get her off with the help of the sea rescue service: a diver from the rescue team went into the water, I got on deck to help him moor up the trimaran, but just at that moment, she swung around and in just a few moments, the breakers smashed her up and her mast came down… In spite of the extraordinary bravery and the determination of the sea rescue team, as we speak, all that remains of her is a few tiny pieces. It’s incredible that in such a short space of time, a boat can be smashed up like that.»
«Those six days at sea on board IDEC were a sheer joy, and when you find this sort of success with a boat, you get attached to her. I’m almost ready to believe that those little bits of fibre have some sort of spirit. I really believe the boat worked harder than I did in getting these two records. I was beginning to think about other challenges. I was determined to sail 600,000 miles alone with her! (…) But in the end, at sea, you are the only one in charge and you have to accept your mistakes, just as you accept the laurels of victory at other moments.”]
IDEC As She Should Be Remembered…
The Earthist Chronicles 