SAINT-MALO, France (AP) β Thomas Coville saw his hopes of winning the Route Du Rhum vanish during the first night of the trans-Atlantic race when he damaged his yacht in a collision with a cargo ship.
Competing in the Ultimate class, the skipper of Sodebo Ultime escaped uninjured but damaged the starboard float on his boat.
Coville, who won the 3,542-nautical mile (6,560-kilometer) leg between Saint-Malo and the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe in 1998 in the monohull class, was among the favorites for this year’s race.
Another French skipper, François Angoulvant, had to be rescued after his Class 40 Team Sabrosa lost its keel. Angoulvant was airlifted to Brest where he is in good condition, according to race organizers.
Loick Peyron was leading the field early Monday aboard Banque Populaire VII.
