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Ten days after running aground on a shoal between the island of Sein and the islet of Kelaourou, Tom Dolan?s Figaro 3 Kingspan Sailing was refloated. The operation, which had been in the works for several days, allowed the boat to be extracted from its precarious position before being righted in an area with sufficient depth.
Spring tides as the only window of opportunity for intervention
Since the accident, the priority has been to protect the one-design boat from the effects of the swell, the tides, and the surrounding rocks. The low tidal ranges of the previous days made it impossible to free the sailboat without additional risk. The team therefore waited for the return of the spring tides to take advantage of sufficient water levels to attempt a refloating.
A technique suited to the boat's position
The plan chosen was to gradually right the Figaro 3 while it was still listing. Inflatable buoys were installed under the keel to provide buoyancy. At the same time, a halyard attached to the masthead allowed the sailboat?s righting to be controlled. This method limited the stress on the hull and rigging during the various phases of the operation.
Heading to Port la Forêt for the appraisals
Once freed and righted, the Figaro 3 immediately set course for Port la Forêt. The boat will now undergo a thorough inspection before undergoing repairs.
A few days earlier, Tom Dolan had already noted that the hull seemed to have held up remarkably well during its forced stay on the rocks.
