Barely 24 hours after the start of this 3rd stage of the Solitaire Urgo Le Figaro, Tanguy Le Turquais (Queguiner - Kayak) was terrified. While he was in 11th place in the ranking, he ran aground on the rocks at the eastern tip of the island at around 1330.
" It was a shock. I was going against the current to overflow the point. A good part of the fleet passed between two pebbles to protect themselves as best they could from the ebb tide. I joined this part of the fleet, but if it passed, I, who was only about ten metres behind, was less lucky. My keel bulb got stuck between two rocks and as the sea kept going down, I ran aground on a flat surface. It's been terrible. Terrible to see that and feel the boat crashing under my feet. It's one of the worst things that can happen." commented the skipper.
Tossed by the current, the skipper was able to count on the help of the Express, Bob Escoffier's motor trimaran, which acts as a media boat and escort ship on the race. The latter sent him a tire with a tow line. Tanguy then pushed it to the masthead so that the trimaran could tip the Figaro 3, while avoiding rubbing too hard against the flush granite rocks.
A delicate operation, of course, but one that has borne fruit. The Figaro 3 Queguiner - Kayak was able to refloat and is now on its way to a nearby port to see the damage.
Le Figaro 3 in pictures
