The Transat Café L’Or Debrief: IMOCAs, capsizes, and a surprise second place

The Transat Café L’Or last Autumn was a dramatic race featuring unexpected finishes, capsized boats, and speedy IMOCAs

A fast start for Ultim Maxi Banque Populaire XI. Photo: Vincent Curutchet/Alea

Shortly after 10.30 in the evening on Saturday, 25 October, French team mates Erwan Le Draoulec and Tanguy Le Turquais found themselves upside down in a capsized trimaran in 30-knot winds with the waters of the English Channel rising inside their boat.

Though Le Turquais says there was no panic on board...