Route du Rhum: Joyon rescued, damaged for Caudrelier and Laperche impresses, what to remember from the night

The brand new Maxi Edmond de Rothschild helmed by Charles Caudrelier suffered foil damage on Tuesday morning a few hours after Francis Joyon was picked up by a cargo ship, while Tom Laperche (SVR Lazartigue) still led the Route du Rhum fleet on Tuesday at 07:00 (GMT+1).

“Shortly before 05:00, Charles Caudrelier alerted his shore team of damage encountered on the port foil of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild. This major incident occurred while the skipper of the Gitana Team was sailing downwind, 400 miles in the north of the Azores, in heavy seas of 3m and a northerly wind of 20/25 knots. The latest addition to the Gitana was then in 4th position in the Ultim,” indicates Caudrelier’s team in a press release. “The skipper is well and the situation is under control,” said the press release.

“Supported by his team on land, Charles Caudrelier carries out the necessary operations to secure the damaged foil while carrying out more in-depth investigations on board to determine the extent of the damage. At the same time, its routing unit is studying the different possible scenarios,” concludes the text. This is the second major incident in the Ultimate category after that of Anthony Marchand, forced to return to Ireland after an incident on a rudder.

For his part, Francis Joyon (Océans) who capsized on Monday in the Celtic Sea on the second day of racing, was able to be recovered Monday evening by a cargo ship. The winner of the 2018 Route du Rhum is “doing well” and must be landed in Ireland.

Concerning the race, obviously led by the Ultim trimarans, Laperche retains the lead which he has held since the gun went off with 55 nautical miles ahead of Armel Le Cléac'h (Banque Populaire) and 126.7 miles over Thomas Coville (Sodebo).

Basile Bourgnon (Edenred) still leads the Ocean Fifty fleet, while in monohulls, Corentin Horeau (MACSF) has taken the lead of the Imoca with some damage. Saffron damage was reported on Les P’tits Doudous. During the night, Armel Tripon contacted his team following damage to one of his two rudders. While sailing downwind at more than 20 knots, about 650 miles northeast of the Azores, in fairly manageable seas. Violette Dorange, who hit Romain Pilliard's trimaran on Sunday, is still stationary in Roscoff. Finally, in the Class40, Luca Rossetti (Maccaferri Futura) still dominates the class.

Provisional podium of the professional categories Tuesday at 7:00 a.m. French (GMT+1):

MULTI-HULLS

. Ultim

1. Tom Laperche (SVR Lazartigue) 2,251 nautical miles from the finish

2. Armel Le Cléac'h (Banque Populaire) 55.5 mins away

3. Thomas Coville (Sodébo) at 123.7 mins

. Ocean Fifty

1. Basile Bourgnon (Edenred) 2,644 nautical miles from the finish

2. Pierre Quiroga (WeWise) at 38.2 mins

3. Thibaut Vauchel-Camus (Solidaires En Peloton) at 38.4 mins

MONOCUQUES

. Imoca

1. Corentin Horeau (MACSF) 2,667 nautical miles from the finish

2. Ambrogio Beccaria (Allagrande Mapei) at 20.7 mins

3. Sam Goodchild (Macif) at 22.7 mins

Class 40

1. Luca Rossetti (ITA) (Maccaferri Futura) 2,969 nautical miles from the finish

2. Pierre Leboucher (Imagine Institute) 0.3 mins away

3. Guillaume Pirouelle (Seafrigo Sogestran) 1.5 mins away