SMA skipper to be medivaced

Paul Meilhat sustains injury in Transat Saint-Barth-Port La Forêt gale

Late morning this Monday 14 December, Paul Meilhat was seriously injured during a manoeuvre while racing aboard his IMOCA 60 SMA in the
IMOCA Ocean Masters Transat St Barth-Port la Forêt race.

At the time, SMA was sailing downwind under mainsail alone and two reefs, around 20 miles to the southwest of the Azores archipelago, in 50 knots of wind and 8 metre waves. Meilhat immediately contacted his team to alert them about the incident: he has pain in his ribs, hip and right leg.

Race Management for the Transat Saint-Barth-Port La Forêt and the MRCC in Ponta Delgada were alerted straightaway. Initially, Meilhat and his team decided to find shelter for the boat in the lee of the island of Sao Miguel. But at 15:30 GMT, Meilhat confirmed he was having considerable difficulty moving himself around the boat. As a result the emergency services were called. A patrol boat from the Portuguese navy, Viana Do Castelo, has headed to the zone, however, the weather conditions are so severe that it is not possible for an airlift by helicopter or a vessel to come alongside in the immediate future.

SMA is currently barepoled and is drifting offshore at around 6 knots, escorted by the navy patrol boat, which will remain alongside her throughout the night. Meilhat is in permanent contact with his team and with a doctor in Lorient, Brittany.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, once the depression currently plaguing the zone around the Azores has shifted east, the weather conditions will improve and Meilhat can be airlifted off his boat by helicopter. SMA’s team is on its way and will be in Sao Miguel at around lunchtime local time tomorrow, Tuesday.

The SMA group and its associates and the organising team of the race are fully behind Meilhat and give him their full support during these difficult times.