Storm Herminia: British yachtsman missing off the coast of Gironde

La façade atlantique a été balayée ces derniers jours par la tempête Eowyn qui occasionné de gros dégâts en Irlande et en Grande-Bretagne, avant le passage dimanche d'une nouvelle dépression baptisée Herminia. MAXPPP – Thierry Creux

A 73-year-old British yachtsman, who was sailing alone off the Gironde, has gone missing in the Atlantic, swept in recent days by storm Eowyn and then depression Herminia, the Maritime Prefecture announced on Sunday.

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The sailboat sailing under the American flag had been located on Friday evening about 185 km west of the mouth of the Gironde estuary, despite the weather warning, but its sole occupant, a British septuagenarian, had stated by radio that he was safe and continuing on his way.

However, its distress beacon was activated on Saturday afternoon about 80 km west of Lacanau (southwest), prompting the intervention of the emergency services.

“At 5:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m. GMT), the helicopter arriving on the scene found the ripped open sailboat and winched up its two divers who discovered the empty raft”, the Atlantic Maritime Prefecture stated in a press release.

Searches suspended

Despite the deployment of a Falcon 50 aircraft from the French Navy and a Caïman helicopter, as well as the diversion of two ships, the searches have been suspended “in the absence of new information”, around 01:30 (00:30 GMT) on the night of Saturday to Sunday.

“The Atlantic maritime prefecture reminds of the precautionary instructions relating to navigation and the practice of water sports in winter with numerous depressions”, it stressed.

The Atlantic coast has been swept in recent days by storm Eowyn which caused major damage in Ireland and Great Britain, before the passage of a new depression named Herminia on Sunday. On Sunday, heavy rain and strong winds disrupted rail and road traffic in the French regions affected by Herminia and floods led the city of Rennes (west) to evacuate several streets.