The maxi trimaran Banque Populaire IX capsized at around 3am on Saturday April 14 while sailing off the coast of Morocco.
The crew of Vende Globe winner Armel Le Cléac'h, Pierre-Emmanuel Hérissé and a cameraman, were able to shelter inside the boat until rescued by the Moroccan navy. They were able to trigger a distress beacon and contact their technical team ashore.
Leaving Lorient on Tuesday, the boat was headed to the start of the Nice UltiMed.
“The conditions were pretty stable, I had checked and there was no crop or thunderstorm ahead of us,” Le Cléac said when he reached land. “As we left the boat, the three hulls and arms were intact, but end of the mast was broken into several parts.”
The shore team will try to get the boat back as soon as possible and hopes to restore it in time for the Route du Rhum in November
Banque Populaire IX was launched in 2017 and is an Ultim category trimaran. It is 32 meters long and 23 meters wide, with a mast rising to 38 meters.
