Transat Jacques Vabre - Paul Vatine Missing

"Paul Vatine was at the helm when the boat capsized. Jean was inside. When he went out, Paul had disappeared."

The crews of the Transat Jacques Vabre have been through one hell of a night. A night unfortunately punctuated by the activation of the Groupe André Sarsat beacon at 07hr45 this morning. His nearest competitor described the weather condition as close to apocalyptic. " It's better to see this on T.V ", said Marc Guillemot (Biscuits La Trinitaine) who himself had to abandon following a sheared centre-board. "The westerly wind is blowing at 50knots, the sea is white. I estimate the depth of the waves as being 8 to 10 metres."

At 14hr30, the trimaran Biscuits La Trinitaine is the first to arrive in the accident zone, before the rescue plane sent by the Portuguese authorities responsible for the maritime security in this area. Positioned to the west of Groupe André she is the only one to be able to head towards the stricken tri without too much danger, as she has to sail downwind. "The boat is upturned, Jean Maurel is on her hull, he doesn't know where Paul Vatine is", explained Marc Guillemot, via Mini M, to Sylvie Viant, the President of the Race Committee. " It is 14hr40 and the sea is demented."

Marc Guillemot then managed to get into VHF contact with Jean Maurel. " Paul Vatine was at the helm when the boat capsized. Jean was inside. When he went out Paul had disappeared," continued Marc, with his co-skipper Jean-Luc Nélias shocked by the news. Both of them have raced many times with the one they nicknamed Paulo. For all the sailors and other people involved in this Transat Jacques Vabre, this drama reminds them that despite all the security precautions, the sport of ocean yacht racing is one of extreme danger.

At the time of the capsize which happened at 07hr45 (French time ) this morning, Paul Vatine was wearing a lifejacket which doubles as a security harness. It also includes a Sarsat individual distress beacon, a flashlight and some flourescine. Paul must have been knocked down by the violence of the force which can be compared to the type of force that can occur in a bad car accident. The chance to find the skipper alive are unfortunately very remote despite the scale of the rescue (a plane, and four merchant ships) in the zone.

Paul Vatine is 42. On the 2nd October 1998, he married Mireille, his girlfriend of 10years. Born in Le Havre, a professional skipper since 1980, Paul completed 30 Atlantic crossings including 9 in solo and 10 victories. The Transat Jacques Vabre is "his RACE" having won it in '93 and in '95 and finishing 2nd in '97 with Jean-Luc Nélias. Tomorrow we will miss the sound of his voice during the radio contact, with his talent to share his life as a sea adventurer to the maximum number of people, coupled with his never failing determination to win.