Following the discovery of the wreck, a search was launched for the group's president. Although it is not known whether he was alone on board, it is certain that Pierre Agnes was at sea.

A wreck with no one on board
He had gone out to sea at 7:30 a.m. aboard his boat "Mascaret III", leaving from the port of Capbreton, to fish for chipiron (squid also known as supion in the south of France). He reportedly sent a message to the harbor master's office to explain that he would have to postpone his return due to fog.

Rescuers who discovered the overturned wreck on the beach found no body on board. This discovery triggered an operation for "suspicion of man overboard".

Two launches and three helicopters were mobilized to fly over the area, under the direction of CROSS Etel, which coordinates rescue operations from Finistère to the Spanish border. Coastal land patrols were also mobilized, according to the Préfecture maritime de l'Atlantique.

A surf brand in mourning
Pierre Agnes was World President of Bordrider Inc., a leading board sports group which owns the Quiksilver, Roxy and DC Shoes brands. He had made a name for himself by buying out Billabong shares for the symbolic price of 1 euro. The father of a Landaise family lives in Capbreton, while the company's head office is in Saint-Jean-de-Luz