It's an almost miraculous rescue.
During the night of Monday to Tuesday, the French navigator Laurent Camprubi capsized with his Class40 "Glaces Romane", while he was more than 25 km from the Spanish coast.
It took 16 hours for rescuers to rescue the Marseille navigator and put him out of danger.
His boat capsized around 8 p.m. on Monday evening and was taken to hospital at 12:30 p.m. the next day.
“In an operation against the clock, in rough seas, at night, 15 miles from the coast (Editor’s note, 24 km) and in the middle of nowhere.
Yesterday (Tuesday August 2) we successfully completed the rescue of the French skipper who spent 16 hours inside his overturned sailboat in Malpica,” says Salvamento Maritimo, the Spanish sea rescue company that rescued to the browser.
The Marseille skipper was at sea to prepare for the Route du rhum which is due to take place next November.
Saved by an air bubble
After capsizing, the French skipper was able to take refuge “inside” his boat, saved by an air bubble which allowed him to breathe during these interminable 16 hours.
The operation mobilized significant rescue resources.
Three helicopters and three boats came to the aid of the navigator.
They were joined by a group of divers around 3:30 a.m.
It was one of the divers who found Laurent Camprubi, under the hull of his ship.
Once out of his Class40, he was airlifted while he was in a state of hypothermia.
An ambulance picked him up at Alvedro airport before taking him to hospital.
At this time, Laurent Camprubi is safe and sound.
An experienced sailor, Laurent Camprubi finished 24th in the last Transat Jacques Vabre in Class40.
He was to take part in the 40 Malouine Lamotte in September before setting sail for the Route du rhum next November.
