At 1132hrs UTC this morning, while French skipper Fabrice Amedeo was en route to Cascais in Portugal after suffering damage during the Route du Rhum-Destination Gudeloupe solo Transatlantic race, there was an explosion aboard his Imoca, Nexans – Art & Fenêtres. This led to a fire on board which spread, requiring Amedeo to abandon his boat which sank soon after.
A rescue operation was immediately set up. After being informed by Race Direction, the Portuguese maritime rescue centre contacted ships in the area of the accident. The Cargo vessel M/V MAERSK BRIDA was close by and diverted immediately. The rescue operation went well and at 1421hrs UTC this afternoon, Amedeo, 44, was taken safely on board the cargo vessel. He has not suffered any injuries. He will be taken ashore in Ponta Delgada, on the southern side of the island of São Miguel in the Azores.
More information to follow.