Armel Le Cléac'h Withdraws After Capsizing

Armel Le Cléac’h, skipper of Banque Populaire and winner of the 2017 Vendée Globe, was forced to retire on Wednesday morning. In the first hours of the race, his boat capsized northwest of the Azores.

According to the Route du Rhum organizers, Le Cléac’h was sailing about 550 nautical miles (nearly 1,000 km) northwest of the Azores when he capsized at around 5:30 a.m. He is safe and was able to set off his distress beacon.

The capsizing follows that of Matthieu Perraut, on the Ocean Fifty Elvest, who had already been forced to retire on Tuesday evening.

Just three days after the start in Saint-Malo, several favourites have left the race. Francis Joyon capsized on Monday and Charles Caudrelier retired on Tuesday after serious foil damage. Jérémie Beyou withdrew for medical reasons.

Leading the race now are Tom Laperche, on SVR-Lazartigue, and Thomas Coville, on Sodebo Ultim 3. They are locked in a very tight duel less than 2,000 nautical miles (about 3,434 km) from Pointe-à-Pitre.

Michel Desjoyeaux, who won in 2002, says these incidents are a reminder of the mechanical demands of the sport. The boats started flat out at a strategically tricky moment, when sailors needed to break away and make the most of their chances, he adds.