Crew Member Death Mars Atlantic Rally for Cruisers
The Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) has been marred by the tragic death of a crew member aboard one of the participating yachts. The World Cruising Club has reported “the death of crew member Max Delannoy on board the ARC yacht Agecanonix during the night of 26/27 November. The full circumstances of the incident are not known at this point.”
It was reported that the three-man French crew were sailing Agecanonix as part of the ARC IRC Racing Division, and had opted for a course well to the north of the rhumb line route to Saint Lucia, aiming to avoid the light winds affecting the southerly route close to Cape Verde.
“A MAYDAY call was made from the Agecanonix around midnight on 26/27th requesting a medical evacuation. Sadly, injured crew member Max Delannoy was declared dead before any outside help could be provided.”
An updated report in Scuttlebutt Sailing News added, “As Max Delannoy was taking the helm for his night shift, the boom violently hit him in the head. Philippe Anglade, who was in the cockpit, was able to hold him back from falling into the water, but he died suddenly.”
In September we wrote that 159 boats had signed up to sail the 2700 miles across the Atlantic from Gran Canaria to Saint Lucia in the 2021 ARC. West Coast sailors and Good Jibes guests Lyall and Katie Burgess, who met while sailing in St. Lucia after the ARC in 2011, are currently sailing in the ARC aboard their Dufour 382 GL Blake.
More details here.