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As the IMOCA fleet arrived in Aarhus (overnight 28-29 May), The Ocean Race was made aware that an incident took place during the stopover in Newport.
Our immediate concern has been with the safeguarding of any person who may have been impacted and we have, in this case, been assured by Team Holcim-PRB that safeguarding measures within their team are in place for this. We respect the right to privacy and have offered, and continue to offer, our full support and access to any services that might be beneficial.
No formal complaint or report has been received by The Ocean Race to date. This is primarily a matter to be dealt with by the team and the regulatory authorities for the sport of sailing. On Saturday (3 June), Kevin Escoffier stepped down as skipper of Team Holcim-PRB and will not rejoin the Race.
As a World Sailing sanctioned Major International Event, there are processes in place for how The Ocean Race should handle on and off the water incidents and we have been following those procedures along with World Sailing since we learned of the incident. World Sailing has confirmed the French Sailing Federation (FFV) is the appropriate organisation to investigate and apply sanctions (if any) in relation to this incident.
On Monday (5 June), we spoke with the FFV, who confirmed they are following their procedures to set up an investigation, including sending a report to the French Ministry of Sport. We support this initiative and are fully cooperating with the FFV.
The Ocean Race is committed to a safe environment for everyone on and off the water and will continue its work to promote inclusion in the sport of sailing.
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Accusations Article From Europe 1
https://www.europe1.fr/societe/viole...sports-4187066
A new case of sexual violence disrupts the world of sport on Monday. Navigator Kevin Escoffier is the subject of a report from the French Sailing Federation concerning "inappropriate behavior he allegedly had towards a woman during a party" in Newport, during a stopover of The Ocean Race.
Sailor Kevin Escoffier will be the subject of a report from the French Sailing Federation (FFV) on Monday to the sexual violence unit of the Ministry of Sports for events that occurred in May in the United States, we learned from concurring sources. "This report to the "signal sport" cell (which deals almost exclusively with acts of sexual violence, editor's note) will be filed today", Monday, Jean-Luc Den'chau told AFP. , president of the FFV, confirming information from the daily Le Telegramme. The ministry confirmed to AFP that the president of the FFV had informed them that the report to the cell would be made on Monday.
"I read the team's statement overnight from Saturday to Sunday and then what Kevin Escoffier had put on his Instagram (...). I made a number of phone calls which led me to think that what was presented as an alleged incident would be an inappropriate behavior that he would have had towards a woman during an evening "in Newport, during a stopover of The Ocean Race, explained Jean-Luc Den'chau. "The facts that have been reported to me justify that I make a report to the Ministry of Sports and very likely launch a disciplinary procedure within the federation," he added.
"Behaviours that cannot be tolerated"
If he did not wish to give more details on the testimonies collected at this stage, the president of the FFV considered that "if the facts were to be proven, these are behaviors which cannot be tolerated". According to a source close to the case, it would be "a sexual assault". On Saturday, the Swiss crew PRB-Holcim announced that they would start the 6th leg of The Ocean Race, a crewed round-the-world race with a stopover, without its leader Kevin Escoffier. On his Instagram account, the Malouin had said on Saturday in a message deleted since withdrawing from the race "following an alleged incident during the Newport stopover", from May 10 to 21.
After stopping in Newport, the sailors of The Ocean Race, including Kevin Escoffier, headed for Aarhus (Denmark), where they arrived on May 29. PRB-Holcim, with Escoffier as skipper, had been the leader of the general classification since the start in January, before giving up first place during the 5th stage to the American crew 11th Hour. Escoffier, 43, won The Ocean Race in 2017-18 and also has the Transat Jacques-Vabre 2005 on his list.