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Around the world navigator Kevin Escoffier is safe. The Frenchman was rescued early Tuesday morning by his Vendée Globe competitor Jean Le Cam after an accident in the Southern Ocean and is with him aboard the yacht “Yes We Cam!”. The first video footage from the dash showed the relieved Escoffier in his survival suit.
“You know those movies about shipwrecks? That’s how it went. Only worse, “Escoffier said between laughs and hair-pulling in a first interview:” In four seconds the boat sank into the wave and the bow bent 90 degrees. I rested my head on the cabin when a wave came. I had time to send a text message. It said: “I need help. I’m sinking. That’s not a joke. ” Then the wave paralyzed the electronics. It was totally insane. Then he split the boat in two. I’ve seen a lot, but that … “
Escoffier had to hand over his boat “PRB” on Monday afternoon at 2:46 pm German time after a quick rush of water. He had been transferred to the life raft 840 nautical miles southwest of Cape Town. After the first eye contact between Le Cam and Escoffier, the life raft was initially out of sight with strong winds and waves up to five meters high when it was dark.
Boris Herrmann, who was diverted to the scene of the accident with his “Seaexplorer – Yacht Club de Monaco” and two other boats, reported on Tuesday how the search for Escoffier had gone. He had been assigned a sector to search closely. That would have “taken about 15 or 20 hours,” he said. “You realize what kind of needle in the haystack we’re looking for here.” Also, due to the cold and strong waves, it was foreseeable that such a long search could not be carried out continuously. “Fortunately, Kevin could be saved,” Herrmann said.
Rescuer Le Cam described that happy moment as follows: “Suddenly I saw lightning.” A reflection. Le Cam, 61, immediately drove in his direction, saw Escoffier there and threw a life preserver at him. Race control received the message at 2:18 am
Nothing is known about the future fate of Kevin Escoffier and his shipwreck. The only thing that is clear is that he will not be able to complete the solo career with Le Cam. Food on board is rationed for one person. Dropping the castaway in Cape Town would be a possibility.
The incident once again demonstrates the dangers employers may be exposed to. There have been deaths in the history of the Vendée Globe. Le Cam, the savior, knows how tight the ocean race can get. During the Vendée Globe 2008/2009, it was he who had to be pulled out of the water. His ship capsized near Cape Horn.
