Second Chance

Last week’s story, “No Bull” featured a shot of Christophe Bouvet’s Figaro blasting downwind in the Cap Istanbul race. This shot from Jacques Vapillon shows what his boat, Sirma looked like when found without Buvey aboard a couple of days later. What happened in the interim is a simply amazing story, told here by Marian Martin from BYMNews.

Friday before nightfall, breeze came on for everyone in the Cap Istanbul, about 16 hours out of Sicily. Buvey went on deck to change sails and was caught in a sudden squall that brought 45 knot winds; SIRMA broached and Christophe was thrown in the water. In his own words, “I fell overboard, but I hung onto a warp. I was underwater. The spinnaker filled and I had to let go.”