Transat Jacques Vabre - Foiler Edmond de Rothschild pulls out

by Sail-World.com NZL on 27 Oct 2015 Team management have announced that the foiling Mono 60, Edmund de Rothschild, has pulled out of the Transat Jacques Vabre and is returning to Lorient.

Sailed by Sébastien Josse and Charles Caudrelier the news advice says the decision was 'dictated by their seamanship and the desire to bring the newest Gitana safely. The crew is in good health and has not requested assistance. The Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild has turned around and set course towards Lorient, her home port, it should reach tomorrow late afternoon.'

'At 19h, the crew of Edmond de Rothschild contacted Cyril Dardashti, the manager of the Gitana Team, and indicated they would withdraw from the Transat Jacques Vabre 2015.

'Since this afternoon, we know a series of incidents aboard Edmond de Rothschild. Taken separately, these problems are minor and could possibly be solved if we had a better weather that allowed us to tinker.

'But given the weather conditions announced for the next 48 hours, we know that these incidents could put us in the situation of major damage and dangerous both for crew and for the boat.

'Weather forecasts indicate more than 40 knots of wind and a violent sea with waves of over 7 meters. We consider that it would be irresponsible to bring the boat in these conditions.

'Edmund de Rothschild was launched two and a half months ago and the boat suffers from a lack of proper development time for the concept.

'This abandonment was a very difficult decision but there is no question of jeopardizing the project. Construction of Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild has taken more than a year of work and this boat was designed and conceived for the Vendée Globe, which remains the major objective of the team with this team. It's hard having to give but we must not lose sight of our goal. '

The 2015 Transat Jacques Vabre started just over 24 hours ago. The course takes the competitors from Le Harve, France to Itajai, Brazil over a route similar to the the first Leg of the Volvo Ocean Race. There are four divisions ion the race, with 20 crews in the Mono60 division. Another Mono60 Maitre CoQ retired earlier at 2300hrs UTC.

The Edmond de Rothschild crew of Sébastien Josse and Charles Caudrelier have competed in a total of nine Transat Jacques Vabre races and won the 2013 race aboard Edmond de Rothschild Multi70 and established the record time for the route of 11 days 5 hours 3 minutes and 54 seconds.

Charles Caudrelier is also well known as being the skipper of the 2014/15 Volvo Ocean race entry Dongfeng Racing.