Kito de Pavant, the skipper of Groupe Bel, hit by a trawler this morning off the coast of Portugal, officially announced his retirement to the Vendée Globe race organizers. The skipper is unharmed but his boat has suffered serious damage. It is ripped open on the port side, on the level of the outrigger and the bowsprit was torn off. The monohull is making progress towards the Cascais marina (Portugal), which he will reach this evening. Two members of the technical team are currently on site to welcome the devastated skipper and his boat. “The Vendée Globe stops here for me, for the Bel Group and all the people who followed me in this adventure, ” were Kito’s words, sent by video this afternoon, in which he shows the state of the boat.After Safran, Groupe Bel….a killer Vendée
Kito de Pavant, the skipper of Groupe Bel, hit by a trawler this morning off the coast of Portugal, officially announced his retirement to the Vendée Globe race organizers. The skipper is unharmed but his boat has suffered serious damage. It is ripped open on the port side, on the level of the outrigger and the bowsprit was torn off. The monohull is making progress towards the Cascais marina (Portugal), which he will reach this evening. Two members of the technical team are currently on site to welcome the devastated skipper and his boat. “The Vendée Globe stops here for me, for the Bel Group and all the people who followed me in this adventure, ” were Kito’s words, sent by video this afternoon, in which he shows the state of the boat.