KITE 144

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Transat Racer damaged in collision

The French yachtsman Maxime Sorel competing in The Transat Bakerly Solo Transatlantic Race from Plymouth to New York, was forced to abandon the race on May 3, 2016, after the "V and B" crashed into the Russian cargo m/v Yashma"(IMO-No.: 9555357), which was en route from Figueira da Foz, where it had sailed on Apr 30, to Gavle, ETA May 9. The accident happened around 10 a.m 160 km west of the tip of Penmarc'h . Maxime Sorel was among the leaders in the 10-strong Class40 fleet, as the boats raced downwind in the northern Bay of Biscay about 90 nautical miles west of Lorient. At 11.23 a.m. the CROSS Corsen was notified by the Race Director about the accident. The yacht had suffered damage to the bowsprit, forcing Sorel to head to La Trinité sur Mer. Sorel was safe and uninjured and the boat’s mast was stable. The cargo ship continued its voyage. The Navy's operational center in Brest decided to divert a F50M maritime surveillance aircraft for the relocation. 12:34 a.m. the aircraft located the cargo ship who admitted to have collided with the sailboat. At 1:20 p.m. it was ordered to divert to Brest, with an expected arrival at the anchorage in the evening of May 3. The yacht reached La Trinité in the morning of May 4. French report with photos: https://www.premar-atlantique.gouv.fr/communiques-presse/collision-entre-cargo-voilier-transat-plymouth-new-york.html