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The first images of Banque Populaire XI, which has turned back off the coast of the Azores
The first images of the Maxi Banque Populaire XI after it capsized were shared by a crew member of the cargo ship that came to Armel Le Cléac'h's rescue. The accident occurred on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, around 5:30 a.m., approximately 550 nautical miles northwest of the Azores. At the time, Armel Le Cléac'h was in second place in the Route du Rhum, behind Tom Laperche.
One skipper rescued, one trimaran still to be recovered
After the capsizing, the sailor was able to take shelter inside his boat, activate his distress beacon, and communicate with his team on shore. The rescue operation was coordinated by CROSS Jobourg and the Boston Maritime Rescue Center.
Several ships were diverted to the trimaran's location. A Panamanian-flagged cargo ship finally arrived on the scene in the afternoon and rescued the skipper, who was unharmed. The ship is currently en route to the United States, where the skipper will disembark.
While Armel Le Cléac'h's rescue is now complete, the fate of the trimaran remains to be seen. Although its structure appears intact, it is too early to draw any conclusions from these images. The exact circumstances of the capsizing have not yet been determined, and the recovery of Banque Populaire XI is now the next challenge for its technical team.
