Nantes navigator Armel Tripon capsized on Sunday evening, a little before midnight. He sailed alone in relatively unstable conditions (20-25 knots of wind) about thirty miles from La Coruña at the northwestern tip of Spain. Armel Tripon has refugee inside his boatthe trimaran Les P’tits Doudous.
He has was quickly airlifted by the Spanish emergency services and dropped ashore, in La Coruña where he spent the night. He was not injured.
At the same time, the boat recovery operation was organized from Lorient. To make it easier to find the trimaran a positioning beacon has been activated by Armel Tripon before leaving the edge.
“The autopilot stalled“explains the navigator.”The boat ended up at 70° to the wind. The pilot reacted badly to an overwind…I heard a crack as the mast hit the water, then the boat capsized“said the skipper.
The team that is to recover the boat was to arrive in the area on Monday evening.