Queguiner-Leucémie Espoir suffers collision with UFO at NewYork–Vendée
by Marion Cardon on 30 May 2016
Fleet in action - 2016 New York–Vendée Transatlantic Race Thierry Martinez / Sea&Co / Ocean Masters
After a first night spent in close contact with other competitors in the New York–Vendée (Les Sables d’Olonne) presented by Currency House and SpaceCode, Yann Eliès contacted his shore team this morning at 0840 UTC, reporting that his yacht Queguiner-Leucemie Espoir had just hit something in the water with her port daggerboard.
Eliès explained that the impact had caused a small rupture in the daggerboard’s case and has damaged the bottom of the board itself.
Given the position of his boat and in agreement with Claude Quéguiner, Chairman of Groupe Queguiner, the decision has been made to head for the US east sailing mecca of Newport located some 100 miles from Queguiner-Leucemie Espoir’s current position. Here the aim is to effect repairs and get underway again as quickly as possible. For Eliès, the main objective of this race was to train for the Vendée Globe with the aim of reaching the start line of the singlehanded round the world race as best prepared as possible.
Queguiner-Leucemie Espoir’s shore crew is currently en route to Newport, Rhode Island where Queguiner-Leucemie Espoir is expected this afternoon UTC.
If you want to link to this article then please use this URL: www.sail-world.com/145102