Route des Princes update, Spindrift Racing MOD70 capsizes in first inshore race in Dun Laoghaire

The Spindrift Racing team have capsized in a gust during the first inshore race in Dun Laoghaire everyone escaped from under the boat ok but Jacques Guichard suffered a fractured pelvis in the accident and was airlifted to hospital.   The trimaran has been recovered and righted by crane and is now tied at the dock awaiting assessment, repair and a new mast.

From the following article on the Route des Princes website:

http://www.routedesprinces.fr/en/news-race/606/official-spindrift-press-release-spindrift-capsizes-in-dun-lagohaire.html

Official Spindrift Press Release: Spindrift capsizes in Dun Lagohaire

 

Spindrift capsizes in Dun Lagohaire

 

The MOD70 Spindrift capsized on the first leg of the Route des Princes inshore races in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland.

 

All crew are safe and sound, but Jacques Guichard, Yann's brother and a key member of the crew, was hurt in the accident. Both brothers were airlifted by helicopter to the hospital in Dublin, where Jacques was diagnosed with fractures to the pelvis.

 

Yann Guichard, the skipper of Spindrift explained the circumstances of the capsize: "We had 22 to 24 knots of wind on the start line with gusts of up to 30 knots at the lower end of the course. We were at the limit of weather conditions for our boats and it was not great for racing. All the MODs had one reef in the main and staysail. We started a bit below and behind the fleet and found ourselves slightly in a wind shadow. When our rivals had moved away we had a sudden gust literally flattened us.

 

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