Fabien Delahaye's Route du Rhum is over, his Class40 campaign ended not by the Atlantic's famous violence but by a single misstep on a pitching foredeck.
The injury happened around 6am, with Delahaye sailing in 25 knots of wind and a heavily disturbed sea. He was heading forward to drop his spinnaker when his ankle gave way beneath him. The pain was immediate and severe.
Since then the skipper, who has carried Normandy firm LEGALLAIS's colours for four seasons, has been in contact with the race doctor. He cannot put any weight on the foot.
The timing could hardly be worse. A deep depression is forming near the Azores, bringing brutal weather down on the fleet, and facing that prospect on one leg, Delahaye made the reluctant call to withdraw. He had been one of the favourites for this edition, and it was his first Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe. He has not requested assistance, instead setting a course for La Corogne, roughly 350 miles away, a run expected to take 36 to 48 hours. Medical examinations will follow once he arrives.
"After a big nosedive, I dropped the spinnaker," Delahaye said. "My ankle went sideways and I felt immediate, very sharp pain. I didn't actually see what happened because there was water everywhere during the drop, I couldn't see anything.
"The wind conditions coming are appalling and unfortunately I'm not fit to face them. It wouldn't be sensible to continue. I went back over the weather again. This isn't about finishing just to finish. I'd need to gybe now to avoid sailing upwind, but I'm not capable of that. I'm obviously disappointed, it's a very hard decision to make. A lot of people are following me, especially within LEGALLAIS, and I would have loved to bring our Class40 across the Atlantic."
Philippe Casenave-Péré, President of LEGALLAIS, backed the decision.
"We want to express our full support for Fabien at this particularly difficult moment," he said. "We know his commitment, his determination and his selflessness, and we understand how painful this decision to withdraw is for him. But his safety and health must come first, ahead of any other consideration.
"Offshore racing is an extremely demanding discipline, built on pushing personal limits and big emotions, but also on setbacks that remind us how unforgiving this sport can be, for boats and sailors alike. We are very proud of everything Fabien has achieved under the LEGALLAIS colours over these four seasons. Our priority now is knowing he's safe in La Corogne, where he can get the care he needs."
