Artemis Transat Breaking News - Foncia Hits Whale!

Just in From Michel Desjoyeaux aboard the open 60 Foncia: "About two hours ago, I was upwind doing 10 to 11 knots, I was in the boat and I heard a crack. I felt the starboard daggerboard hit something - it's probably broken. I can't get it up more than 1.5 meters. I hope there won't be a big leak. I don't see any interest in pursuing the race with a boat which is not competitive anymore, it makes more sense to head home to Brittany, which should take me about 4 days. It's a big disappointment, because it has been a very interesting race. It's the first time I have to retire from an offshore race, that's how bad it is"

Thus Michel Desjoyeaux, skipper of the Foncia IMOCA monohull, is forced to retire following his collision with a whale. The boat was hit in her front section, and around the starboard daggerboard area, and Michel Desjoyeaux is concerned about the state of the lower part of the daggerboard casing. The skipper is unhurt, the boat is still safe and seaworthy. In order not to take any risks either for the skipper or for the boat, in agreement with the sponsor Foncia, the decision has been made to officially retire from the race. Return to his Brittany base should be reasonably fast (around 1000 miles).

Artemis Transat - Michel Desjoyeaux Sailing Foncia

Michel Desjoyeaux sent in a couple photos of the damaged daggerboard aboard Foncia.

Artemis Transat Standings, Teams, DTF (nm):

1. BT 1856.7
2. Gitana Eighty 1859.9
3. PRB 1866.4
4. Generali 1868.8
5. Brit Air 1924.4
6. Roxy 2007.2
7. Akena Vérandas 2052.4
8. Safran 2054.0
9. Cervin EnR 2055.0
10. Aviva 2109.4
11. Spirit of Weymouth 2121.5
12. Pakea Bizkaia 2009 2130.4

Video 1: Michel Desjoyeaux on Foncia Sailing in the Artemis Transat

Video 2: Foncia Sailing in the Artemis Transat