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A hull that was more damaged than expected
The Initiatives-C?ur team officially announced the withdrawal on Friday, November 6, after four days of inspections and repairs in Lorient. Despite efforts to get Violette Dorange back on course, the condition of the hull requires repairs that are incompatible with the transatlantic race schedule.
Removing the damaged sections of the hull bottom revealed water infiltration in the plating, which is constructed of a composite sandwich with a honeycomb core. Additional damage was discovered beneath a structural component that must also be removed.
This damage requires moving the boat to a sheltered location, allowing the affected materials to dry, and then rebuilding the damaged sections. This work cannot be carried out in a rush without compromising the integrity of the hull.
" "We approached this project with a clear goal: to do everything we could to enable Violette to set sail again, without ever compromising the boat's safety and integrity." , explains Ronan Deshayes, technical director of Initiatives-C?ur.
A collision two hours after departure
On Sunday, November 1, about two hours after setting sail from Saint-Malo, Initiatives-C?ur collided with Use It Again off the coast of Bréhat. Both boats were damaged, but no one was injured.
Violette Dorange had first traveled to Roscoff for an initial evaluation, before heading to Lorient to allow for more in-depth investigations.
The circumstances of the accident are still being investigated by the Route du Rhum jury. The Initiatives-C?ur team has stated that it will not comment on liability until the jury has reached a decision.
A First Route du Rhum Cut Short
For Violette Dorange, who took the helm of Initiatives-C?ur in 2026 after Samantha Davies, this withdrawal brings her first participation in the Route du Rhum to an end.
"This is obviously a huge disappointment. I'm sad that I have to stop here, but the condition of the boat leaves us no choice," the sailor says.
The team must now organize the repair of the IMOCA. No timeline for repairs or a return to training has been announced yet. The 2027 racing schedule will be finalized at a later date, with the 2028 Vendée Globe still the primary goal.
The community project continues
Although the team has withdrawn from the competition, Initiatives-C?ur?s efforts to support Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque continue.
The team had set a goal of helping to fund treatment for 20 children during this Route du Rhum race. According to its update on November 6, the campaign has already raised enough to cover the cost of 14 treatments.
The project partners are continuing their fundraising efforts despite the race being canceled.
For Violette Dorange, the priority now is to find a boat that is seaworthy. The collision ultimately turned what the team had hoped would be a quick repair into a structural overhaul that will take more time.
