Violette Dorange will make a stopover in Roscoff following a collision with Romain Pilliard

Violette Dorange is making a stopover in Roscoff (Finistère) to repair her Imoca, which was damaged on Sunday in a collision with Romain Pilliard's trimaran, a few hours after the start of the Route du Rhum. The announcement came from the sailor's team, according to AFP, whose report was picked up by TV5Monde. Neither skipper was injured, but both boats require repairs.

How the collision unfolded

Still according to AFP, 25-year-old Violette Dorange was at the helm of the Imoca Initiatives Coeur when it struck the trimaran Use it Again off the coast of the island of Bréhat. Her starboard foil is damaged. The collision occurred around 3:15 p.m., two hours after the starting gun was fired off the coast of Saint-Malo, in mild conditions.

Romain Pilliard recounted the incident to AFP in a voice message sent early in the evening. He had been sailing alongside the young woman for a while, at a speed similar to hers. He was reducing his sail area as the wind had just picked up when the Imoca struck him.

Repairs and regulations

Violette Dorange's team indicated in a statement that both boats are heading to Roscoff, where the Initiatives-Cœur team is waiting for them. Romain Pilliard's team specified that, at this stage, he had not filed any protest with race management.

The notice of race authorizes unlimited technical stopovers during the first 150 miles. Boats may also remain docked for as long as necessary before setting off again. AFP believes the damage severely compromises the ambition of the youngest competitor from the last Vendée Globe to finish in the top ten.

The Imoca fleet

At 9:00 p.m. on Sunday, Sam Goodchild (Macif) was leading the Imocas, ahead of Ambrogio Beccaria (Allagrande Mapei) and Elodie Bonafous (Petits Princes - Quéguiner).