“A huge relief!
Kevin is well aboard Hubert safe and sound, ”tweeted Le Cam, which can be seen in front of his French compatriot in a screenshot posted on the site of the organizer of the Vendée Globe, on the border with the Indian Ocean, 600 miles southwest of the Cape of Good Hope.
“It was at 2:18 am French time that the PRB team was informed of the rescue.
Kévin Escoffier appeared smiling, bundled up in his survival suit alongside Jean Le Cam, ”tweeted the organizer, who first announced the rescue.
Third in the race, Escoffier had triggered his distress beacon Monday afternoon while sailing in the 40th Roaring, an area known for its breaking waves and strong winds.
The South African emergency services (MRC Cape Town) were also alerted and were in contact with the race management.
And the hours were long, made cruel by the local conditions - the darkness of the night and the heavy seas ...
" He is fine.
Everyone is well "
As Jean Le Cam progressed, “he disappeared from the screen and we heard him speak.
We couldn't see anyone anymore, ”recounts Jacques Caraës, the race director, on the site.
Then, around 01:10 GMT, “Jean came back down to the chart table, then we saw Kevin come up behind his back in a survival suit.
They appeared seconds, both fit before the video cut.
He is fine.
Everyone is well.
They are recovering!
"
Four skippers left on Monday in search of Escoffier.
The Cam had been the first to have reached the emission zone of the Escoffier distress beacon, at 4 p.m. GMT, that is to say two hours after the alert.
The Cam quickly sighted the liferaft, but the rescue operation was made difficult by heavy seas with troughs of 5 meters and water at around 10 degrees.
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This is the first rescue operation since the start of the race on November 8, which has only two withdrawals out of the 33 participants: that of Nicolas Troussel (Corum L'Epargne) on November 16 after a dismasting, and that from Briton Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) on November 28 due to damage to a rudder after structural problems.
