Violette Dorange withdraws from Route du Rhum, Digi Mart USA News: The end of the road has come for Violette Dorange. After her collision with Romain Pilliard on the afternoon of the start of the 13th edition of the Route du Rhum, the skipper popular on the pontoons had sailed to Roscoff to patch the holes in the hull of her monohull Initiatives-Coeur.
She then returned to her base in Lorient to carry out the major work needed for a new start. On Friday afternoon, she finally decided to throw in the towel, according to the publisher’s report.
In a statement, her team said that after the collision on November 1 off Bréhat, Violette Dorange and her team did everything possible to allow Initiatives-Cœur to resume racing. Detailed investigations carried out in Lorient revealed structural damage more serious than what had been observed during the stop in Roscoff.
The time needed for repairs would not allow Violette to rejoin the race.
The youngest sailor from the last Vendée Globe will therefore not complete her first Route du Rhum. Her withdrawal will likely also simplify the work of the jury, which must examine her collision with Romain Pilliard’s trimaran.
Pilliard’s boat is still being repaired in Roscoff and he hopes to resume the race toward the Antilles.
“This is obviously a great disappointment. I am sad to have to stop here, but the condition of the boat leaves us no choice,” the skipper said.
