/ 
A collision off the coast of Bréhat
On November 1, 2026, a few hours after the start of the Route du Rhum, the IMOCA Heart Initiatives and the trimaran Use It Again collide off the coast of Bréhat.
Both competitors had to interrupt their crossing and head to Roscoff to assess the damage. The incident immediately jeopardized their race, but its consequences turned out differently for the two skippers.
After undergoing further inspections in Lorient, Violette Dorange announced her withdrawal. The damage found in the structure of her monohull makes it impossible to continue the transatlantic race under satisfactory safety conditions.
Romain Pilliard, for his part, managed to set sail again after the necessary repairs were made.
The jury found two violations of the RIPAM
In its decision handed down on November 11, the jury found that Violette Dorange had failed to comply with two provisions of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (IRPCS).
The first concerns Rule 13, regarding overtaking. A vessel overtaking another must deviate from its course and avoid any risk of collision. This obligation remains in effect until the overtaking maneuver is complete.
The second is Rule 5, which requires appropriate visual and auditory vigilance, supplemented by all available means appropriate to the circumstances.
These two rules also apply to sailboats competing in races. Participating in an ocean race does not exempt skippers from their obligations to prevent collisions.
The decision therefore establishes liability under the rules of navigation, without it being necessary to infer intent or deliberately dangerous conduct.
Why are there no additional penalties?
This may come as a surprise: the sailor was found to have committed an infraction but did not receive any additional penalty.
The explanation lies in her withdrawal. Deprived of the opportunity to continue in the Route du Rhum, Violette Dorange has already suffered a decisive sporting consequence. The jury decided not to impose a penalty.
It is important to distinguish between two aspects of this decision. The absence of additional penalties does not nullify the violations that have been established. It simply means that the jury did not deem it necessary to impose harsher sporting consequences.
This distinction is important in a race where a collision can result in considerable property damage, regardless of the decisions subsequently made by the sporting authorities.
Romain Pilliard is seeking compensation for lost time
For Romain Pilliard, the challenge is different. The skipper of Use It Again was able to resume the competition, but his forced stopover caused him to lose several days.
He asked the jury for compensation in the form of time, a procedure that, under certain conditions, allows for compensation for athletic harm suffered through no fault of the competitor in question.
At the time the decision regarding Violette Dorange was made, the outcome of this request had not yet been confirmed. It would therefore be premature to announce a time credit or its potential impact on the standings.
