Three Ocean Fifty Trimarans Capsize in Sudden Transat Café L'OR Turbulence - Skippers Safe Amidst Unpredicted Havoc

Unpredictable weather caused a dramatic upheaval at the Transat Café L’OR as three Ocean Fifty trimarans met an untimely fate, capsizing in tempestuous seas. The notable vessels included the ‘Lazare X Hellio’, ‘Ocean Fifty Koesio’, and ‘Ocean Fifty Inter Invest’. Despite this misfortune, every sailor on board these vessels found safety.

The ‘Lazare X Hellio’, with skippers Erwan Le Draoulec and Tanguy Le Turquais, was the first craft to capsize off La Hague, situated north of Cotentin. The pair were quickly airlifted to safety, leaving the technical team and race organizers to contend with the subverted yacht in 22 to 25-knot winds and three-meter waves.

‘Matthieu Perraut and Jean-Baptiste Gellée’, aboard the ‘Ocean Fifty Inter Invest’, were the last to succumb to the raging seas. Found capsizing off the tip of Brittany, the sailors were at a daunting 4,475 miles from their desired finish line. The dreadful circumstances caught the nautical community by surprise, serving as a stark reminder of the merciless and unpredictability of the open seas. The crews’ survival underlines the importance of sailor resilience and safety protocols, as races like Transat Café L’OR continue to challenge sailing finesse and navigation skills in the face of Mother Nature’s whims.