Musandam-Oman Sail is now safely back in port. The trimaran has been towed to St Pierre et Miquelon. The MOD70 capsized during the Transat Quebec-St Malo last month.
5 August
Musandam-Oman Sail has been recovered and towed back to St Pierre et Miquelon, south of Newfoundland, Canada.
The MOD70 capsized 450 nautical miles east off St Pierre and Miquelon during the early hours of 17 July.
The five crew, who were racing in the Transat Quebec-St Malo, were rescued by a passing cargo ship and taken to Newfoundland.
An operation to recover the trimaran then got underway.
Once found, Musandam-Oman Sail’s 70-foot hull was righted and then towed back across the Atlantic to port.
The MOD70’s sails and broken rig boom were also recovered.
The trimaran will be eventually taken back to France for repairs.
Crew members Damian Foxall and Mayeul Riffet supported Loik Gallon and the shore team with recovering the MOD70.
Musandam-Oman Sail’s crew were racing against the world’s largest trimaran, Spindrift 2, when the incident happened.
Spindrift 2 went on to win the Transat Quebec-St Malo, setting a new record of 6 days, 1 hour, 17 minutes and 41 seconds.
20 July
The crew on board Musandam-Oman Sail are now safely ashore in Newfoundland after being rescued off the Canadian coast.
They were picked up approximately 450 nautical miles east off St Pierre and Miquelon after the MOD70 trimaran capsized in the early hours of 17 July.
The five-member crew, who have all been medically assessed and declared fit and well, were racing in the Transat Quebec-St Malo.
Ireland’s Damian Foxall and Mayeul Riffet from France are supporting Loik Gallon and the shore team with recovering the MOD70.
The other team members, French skipper Sidney Gavignet, Fahad Al Hasni and Alex Pella will return home to their families.
The CEO of Oman Sail, David Graham, said: “We are thankful and hugely relieved that the crew are safe and sound and on dry land.”
“We have a great team and they are now fully focussed on recovering Musandam-Oman Sail,” he continued.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre Halifax, the cargo ship Torm Alexandra that rescued the crew and the Transat Quebec-St Malo race management for their support with this operation,” stated Graham.
“Thank you also to all our supporters around the world who have sent messages and well wishes to the crew and the team – we are very grateful for your support,” added the CEO.
Musandam-Oman Sail’s crew were racing against the world’s largest trimaran, Spindrift 2, when the incident happened.
Spindrift 2 went on to win the Transat Quebec-St Malo, setting a new record of 6 days, 1 hour, 17 minutes and 41 seconds.
18 July
The crew of Musandam-Oman Sail are now on a cargo ship heading for Canada following the capsizing of the MOD70 on 17 July.
The incident happened in the early hours, approximately 450 nautical miles east off St Pierre and Miquelon.
On board was French skipper Sidney Gavignet, Damian Foxall, Fahad Al Hasni, Alex Pella and Mayeul Riffe.
The five-member crew were racing the trimaran in the Transat Quebec-St Malo.
They had left Quebec on 13 July to race the 2,8977 nautical miles course across the North Atlantic to St Malo.
The crew were aiming to beat the existing record set in 1996 by Loïck Peyron of seven days, 20 hours and 24 minutes.
They were racing against the world’s largest trimaran, Spindrift 2, which is being skippered by French sailor, Yann Guichard.
In a statement, Oman Sail said: “Following the capsize of Musandam-Oman Sail early Sunday morning, the five sailors have been safely transferred to a cargo ship and are in transit back to Canada.”
“The capsize happened in the early hours of Sunday approximately 450 nautical miles east of St Pierre and Miquelon while racing the Transat Quebec-St Malo,” continued the statement.
“The team is currently assessing solutions for recovering the MOD70. Our next update will be when the crew is ashore,” concluded Oman Sail.
Just last month, Musandam-Oman Sail, skippered by Gavignet, set a new world record for sailing around Ireland.
They took line honours the 2016 Volvo Round Ireland Race – a distance of 704 nautical miles – in 38 hours, 37 minutes and seven seconds.
This beat their previous time – of 40 hours, 51 minutes and 57 seconds – by more than two hours.
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