Elies runs on to the beach

But using ingenuity the Figaro skipper is able to get himself off

At 20:43 tonight Yann Eliès warned the race organisers of La Solitaire du Figaro, that he had run aground on Primel beach on the north coast of Finistere. The Cormoran Naval ship located in the area was advised one minute later and dispatched a RIB to rendez-vous with the stricken skipper.  At 20:48 Eliès managed to get off unaided with the help of his engine, spinnaker and the boat's water ballast. At 21:05 Eliès called Race Director Jacques Caraës, to report that everything was fine and that he was continuing route towards Gijón.

Yann Eliès , skipper of Generali Europ Assistance described the incident: “I heard the boat run aground and hit something. I was fast asleep and wondered what on earth was going on and then I realised that I had run aground right on the beach. I hoisted the spinnaker, filled my ballast and unfortunately had to start the engine to get off…breaking the engine seal, but am going to continue racing anyway and try and save face and win one. I had not had much sleep the night before, but did get a bit of rest this morning and had decided to sleep as the choppy seas had eased off a bit and the seastate was more manageable.  I really was quite lucky because I went through a minefield of rocks and ran aground just before the tide started to go out. That basically allowed me to get off, otherwise I could have been there all night.  It is the first time I have fallen asleep like this on a tack heading for the rocks.  I thought I had put the alarm on, but must have forgotten to. 

"The race continues and I am not going to give up.  I am going to have to try and get back into it.  I am disappointed because a good result in the overall ranking is pretty much over for me now that I have had to break the engine seal.  I am going to have to look for motivation elsewhere.  Right now I am getting the boat ready and gathering my thoughts and setting off.”