OANI. The acronym is only known to specialists and means unidentified object or animal. And it was because of a bad encounter with an OANI that François Gabart, launched with his team in an attempt against the round the world sailing record on his maxi-trimaran SVR-Lazartiguewas forced, on the night of Monday December 2 to Tuesday December 3, to turn around towards Concarneau (Finistère).
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SVR-Lazartigue was then sailing 500 miles from the Azores Archipelago, towards the equator. “During the night, we seriously damaged the foil [appendice latéral permettant au voilier de voler au-dessus de l’eau] starboard, probably following an impact (…), explained François Gabart in a press release. It's hard, obviously, because we weren't so bad, the boat was going well, it was going quickly downwind. »
According to the 41-year-old skipper's team, “After analyzing the damage, the decision was made to turn around to reach Concarneau as quickly as possible”, usual home port of the maxi-trimaran. “We turned around because it seemed difficult and complicated that this foil could last a whole trip around the world (…), maybe it would have broken after a few hours”estimated Gabart.
A slight delay for “Sodebo Ultim 3”
The Charente sailor and his five crew members (Tom Laperche, Amélie Grassi, Antoine Gautier, Émilien Lavigne and Pascal Bidégorry) are expected between Friday and Sunday in Brittany. Already holder of the solo round-the-world record, Gabart left on Saturday morning to try to beat the crew record held by Francis Joyon (Idec), the Jules Vernes Trophy, since 2017 (40 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes and 30 seconds ).
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If this first attempt suddenly stops, the team has not yet abandoned its project for this winter. “Potentially if nothing else is broken on the boat, we might be able to get back behind pretty quicklysaid the sailor. It's still the beginning of winter (…)there are still many things possible. » The waiting period generally extends until February 15 for crews seeking the record.
Left twelve hours earlier than the SVR-Lazartigue to try to capture the Trophy, the Sodebo Ultim 3 sailor Thomas Coville was sailing off the coast of Cape Verde on Tuesday morning, slightly behind Francis Joyon's record.
