Even great navigators with many ocean adventures behind them say it: when the Mediterranean gets angry, it is one of the most hostile seas. This was experienced by Pierre Ortolan and Bernard Couston who found themselves yesterday with their X-412 Patitifa (while participating in the 400-mile shortened version of the 900 Nautiques de Saint Tropez regatta) in the middle of the storm off Bonifacio (Corsica).
Meters-high waves, very strong winds, the broken mast: recovery of the boat given the more than prohibitive conditions was impossible, and rescuers–great–recovered the sailors by helicopter. Here are the photos (image source Escadron d’hélicoptères 1/44 Solenzara).
PHOTO GALLERY OF THE RESCUE
As we mentioned, the two sailors were participating in the 900 Nautiques de Saint Tropez, a regatta organized by the Saint-Tropez Nautical Society that has been held since 2010 (max 20 participants, IRC-stabilized boats) in March. 900 miles, nonstop, departing from Saint-Tropez and a route that is decided at the last moment based on the weather forecast: Saint-Tropez/ Menorca/South Sardinia/Capo Corso/Saint-Tropez; or: Saint-Tropez/South Sardinia/Ponza Island/Capo Corso/Saint-Tropez.
DISCOVER ALL THE PHOTONEWS OF THE SAILING NEWSPAPER
