Special envoy to Pointe-à-Pitre
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Route du Rhum: live, the positions and rankings of the boats on the cartography of the 12th edition
The final runaway of the Route du rhum was marked on Wednesday by a tragedy at sea when Charles Caudrelier, leader at the helm of Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, was approaching the finish line.
Two people who worked for OC Sport Pen Duick, the organizer of the race, were killed while on a support boat which capsized at around five o'clock in the morning.
The two victims were between 35 and 38 years old.
A judicial investigation has been opened for manslaughter, the prosecution said.
While the celebrations had just started in Pointe-à-Pitre lit by the first rays of sun, the announcement of this tragedy threw a chill on the village of the event.
“
All our thoughts go out to the families of our two employees and to all of our deeply bruised teams
”, declared Hervé Favre, President of OC Sport Pen Duick deeply affected.
The organizers very quickly announced that the events which had been organized to celebrate the arrival of the first Ultims had been cancelled.
Boat trips to the sea to welcome the sailors following Charles Caudrelier have obviously been prohibited.
We are all very affected.
It should have been a party and finally it's a drama
Charles Caudelier
“
We are all very touched.
It should have been a party and in the end it's a tragedy
, ”reacted the winner who went through all the emotions, from the intoxication of victory to immense pain on learning of the sad news.
Many skippers, via their teams, sent messages of condolence to the families of the victims, assuring them of their support.
Thomas Coville, third in the event, did not need to wait for questions from journalists on the subject to speak.
Barely moored to the pontoon with his boat Sodebo Ultim 3, the Rennais explained his feelings, visibly very marked by the events: "
There were only waves of the wind of speed in my head but also shocks with this duel between Charles and François (Gabart) and I'm told the drama that happened last night….I don't know how to explain it to you, it's too violent.
I never imagined that…
”, he confided, his voice calm but serious, sitting on his float.
The sailors who have written the legend of the Route du rhum since 1978
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