Recovery of Philippe Benoiton's body
The search for Philippe Benoiton began early on April 17, 2024, when the Spanish MRCC reported that operations off Cape Finisterre had located and recovered his lifeless body. The 63-year-old skipper, a veterinarian and experienced regatta competitor, was racing solo in the Cap Martinique, an amateur transatlantic race that had set off from La Trinité-sur-mer in Brittany 3 days earlier, bound for Fort-de-France in Martinique. Married with children, he was racing in support of the Passe-Coque association, which gives a second chance to "neglected" boats.
An accidental fall into the sea
The exact conditions of the accident remain unknown to this day. The search was launched after the Cap Martinique race management noticed that Philippe Benoiton's boat was following an abnormal trajectory and travelling at abnormal speeds during the night of April 16th to 17th, but failed to communicate with him. Confused, double-handed competitors Yann Gindre and Michel Foucart aboard L'Opale - A Chacun son Everest finally found the yacht, a JPK 9.60, at 7:40 a.m., without being able to confirm the sailor's presence aboard. It was the crew of Salvamiento Maritimo, the Spanish rescue service, who noted the skipper's absence, before taking the boat in tow to La Coruña. With the engine running and the tiller broken, it is still difficult to determine the circumstances of the tragedy.
A transatlantic voyage that's never trivial
The editorial team sends its condolences to the family and friends. Although the sailors of the Cap Martinique are well-trained amateurs who have been preparing for months, this tragedy reminds us that a transatlantic race is not a trivial adventure, especially if it is single-handed.
