Franck Cammas, who injured his right leg on Monday 30th November, during a crew training session in Quiberon Bay aboard a 10-metre long flying catamaran, underwent surgery for a double fracture of the Tibia and Fibula in the evening, at the Hôtel Dieu in Nantes.
For five days, Franck Cammas, skipper of Groupama Team France for the 2017 America's Cup, has been training in Quiberon Bay.
"On the stretch of water in Quiberon Bay, between Port Haliguen and the Ecole Nationale de Voile, the weather conditions are ideal with a 17 to 18 knot westerly wind and flat seas as they are protected by the Quiberon Peninsula. At the helm of the two GC32s, Franck Cammas and the New Zealander Adam Minoprio are carrying out duel start procedures in match racing style.
At the last start of the day, the French skipper's boat, led by a crew of five, returned to port tack on the line and shot down to position herself favorably against her sparring partner." said the sponsor in a statement.
As the catamaran rose on its foils and accelerated to 25 knots (50 km/h), the sailor was unbalanced and fell overboard. But his right leg hit the rudder of the windward hull.
The coach who supervises the training, Betrand Pacé, present on board an assistance boat, rescued Franck Cammas and brought him back to Port Haliguen, after having alerted the emergency services.
Transported to the hospital, he was operated on and will not lose the use of his foot, since no nerves, tendons or arteries are affected.
The sailor will begin rehabilitation in January 2016 but must, until then, maintain a prone position and rest. He will therefore not be present at the Paris Nautic, unlike his two accomplices - Michel Desjoyeaux and Olivier de Kersauson - and their AC45.
This accident does not jeopardize the participation of the French challenge in the 35th America's Cup. On the other hand, Franck Cammas, who has been training for 3 years with his teammate Sophie de Turckheim for the Olympic Games in Nacra 17, will have to make a cross on it.
This morning, the skipper wanted to send a message to all his fans "I received many messages of support, it touches me a lot, thank you all! Now I have to be patient, I am resting in good conditions with a great team around me. I would have loved to be at the show and share this moment with you! Our AC45 certainly looks great on our stand! Thanks again for your support.
See you soon! FC"
Meet Groupama Team France at the Nautic
The French team of this 35th America's Cup will be presented on the Nautic of Paris saturday, December 5, from 12:30 to 1:30 pm on the Nautic Stage.
Their boat, the AC45, an AC World Series boat, will be on display in Hall 1.
