Actual flips

The first casualty of the Transat Jacques Vabre - NOW WITH PHOTOS!

The first drama has occurred in the Transat Jacques Vabre with the capsize of Actual, the brand new Guillaume Verdier-designed 50ft trimaran of Yves le Blevec and co-skipper Jean Le Cam. She is reported to have capsized approximately 22 miles north of Cherbourg at around 1745 GMT.

At the time she is believed to have been making around 20 knots in approximately 23 knots of wind, when she pitch-poled. Her two crew are reported to be safe, and are sheltering inside the boat. Close to the traffic separation scheme, Jean le Cam has fixed a flashlight outside to mark the boat. They have requested assistance, but did not issue a Mayday. They await the lifeboat from Goury, dispatched by the French coastguard in Jobourg, who have issued a warning to all shipping about their capsized vessel. The lifebat should reach them in around 1.5 hours.

More photos on the following pages....