Charles Caudrelier has been forced to turn back towards Lorient after suffering major damage to the port foil of his new Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, barely two days into his Route du Rhum title defence.
The giant 32-metre trimaran had launched only eight months ago. Taking it to the start line solo, with such a short build-up, was always going to be a stretch, but it was one Caudrelier and the Gitana Team accepted with open eyes.
The race itself had started awkwardly for the defending champion, with conditions early on not suiting his new machine. He had clawed his way back into touch with the leading group after a demanding night spent crossing a cold front, picking up valuable miles on his closest rival, in a fleet that had already seen the leading Ultims surging at 30 to 35 knots through a sea coming from every direction at once.
Then, just before 5am, things went wrong. Despite conditions that should have had the boat flying, Gitana 18 would not lift and could not find its expected pace. In the dark, with three-metre swells and 20 to 25 knot northerlies, Caudrelier inspected the big Y-shaped foils. The verdict was blunt: the port foil was seriously damaged, with the trailing-edge skins torn away and hydraulic lines connected to the foil dragged out with them.
"Thanks to Charles's account and the first photos, we quickly realised the damage was serious," said Cyril Dardashti, Gitana Team's general manager. "Its scale and location, high up on the foil shaft, make it impossible to consider either a repair at sea alone or a quick, effective fix by our technical team out on the course."
He was careful to note the damage was not caused by a collision with an object in the water. "These appendages are innovative, and the systems around them are new for this type of offshore platform. Innovation sometimes comes with that cost."
Safety came first. "This morning our main concern was Charles's safety, then the boat's," Dardashti said. Caudrelier had to isolate the hydraulics in the float to protect the damaged foil circuit while keeping the rest of the boat's systems running.
Exhausted after a punishing start to the race, with the leaders setting a relentless pace, Caudrelier still kept his composure, securing the boat and setting a course for home.
Routers Erwan Israël and Julien Villion offered two options: divert to the Azores, 400 miles south, or turn for Lorient, roughly 1,500 miles away. The team chose Brittany. "The weather over the coming days encouraged that," Dardashti said.
Caudrelier's retirement adds to a race already marked by attrition at the sharp end. Jérémie Beyou was also forced out while lying second in the IMOCA fleet, after withdrawing on medical grounds around 500 nautical miles north of the Azores.
"It's obviously a big disappointment for our owner, Ariane de Rothschild, and the whole team, but it's also part of life in these projects, which demand daily commitment and real perseverance," Dardashti said. "Gitana 18 is only at the very beginning of its sailing life."
There's no firm arrival time yet. Progress home, without foils, will dictate that. The team hopes to welcome Caudrelier back to Lorient by next weekend.
