Tragedy Besets Joy In The Atlantic Cruisers Rally

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TRACKER


World Cruising Club are sad to report 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.

The three-man, all French crew, were sailing Agecanonix, an X-Yachts X4.3, 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.




MRCC France Gris-Nez were initially involved in controlling the incident, before passing over to MRCC Ponta Delgada in the Azores, as the closest station to the Agecanonix. At the request of MRCC, the cruise ship PV Mein Schiff 1, diverted to evacuate Philippe Anglade, who was also injured, Jean-Philippe Anglade and the body of Max Delannoy.

PV Mein Schiff 1, arrived at the distress position as planned around 21:30 UTC (27 Nov). Weather locally was easterly Force 8, with rough seas of 4-5 metres.

The larger vessel was positioned to create a lee for the rescue operation. After assessing the situation, the ship’s rescue boat was deployed and started approaching the Agecanonix. During this time winds started gusting to +40kts and Agecanonix started moving out of control and the rescue operation had to be aborted. PV Mein Schiff 1 then remained in the vicinity waiting for the weather to improve and for daylight.


At around 14:00 UTC today, 28th November, MRCC Ponta Delgada reported that the rescue operation was successfully completed, with both crew and the deceased safely on board, and PV Mein Schiff 1 had set course for Funchal, Madeira. The Agecanonix has been abandoned at approximate position 29° 3.71 N, 026° 30.38 W and continues to be tracked by MRCC via the on-board YB tracker.

Our thoughts are very much with the Anglade and Delannoy families during this sad and difficult time.

World Cruising Club would also like to express their sincere gratitude to all the staff at the MRCC's involved in coordinating the incident, and in particular to the Captain, officers and crew of PV Mein Schiff 1.

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UPDATE: Details emerge



UPDATE:Helen Fretter YachtingWorld.Com

A sailor taking part in this year’s Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (the ARC) was fatally injured, and his crew mates rescued 500 miles west of the Canaries.

Max Delannoy was sailing the ARC aboard the yacht Agecanonix, an X-Yachts X4.3. Delannoy, 73, was struck by the boom but the yacht’s crew were able to prevent him from falling overboard.

On a Facebook page set up for those following Agecanonix’s crossing, family member Stéphanie Barrière reported: “Our dear Max was a victim of an accident last night, when he was just taking the helm for his night shift, the boom violently hit him in the head. Philippe, who was in the cockpit, was able to hold him back from falling into the water, but he died suddenly.”

The three-man all-French crew were sailing Agecanonix as part of the ARC IRC Racing Division. They had opted for a course to the north of the rhumb line route to Saint Lucia, aiming for more consistent breeze and to avoid the light winds affecting the southerly route close to Cape Verde. Their strategy had seen Agecanonix move up to 1st place in Racing B division on November 25.




Skipper Philippe Anglade (left) with Max Delannoy (in companionway) preparing for the start of the 2021 ARC in Las Palmas. Max Delannoy was tragically fatally injured on 26 November. Photo: James Mitchell/WCC

A MAYDAY call was made from Agecanonix around 0000hrs on 26/27 November requesting a medical evacuation. Tragically, injured crew member Max Delannoy was declared dead before any outside help could be provided.

MRCC France Gris-Nez initially controlled the incident, before passing over to MRCC Ponta Delgada in the Azores, as the closest station to the Agecanonix.

At the request of MRCC, the 300m cruise ship PV Mein Schiff 1, diverted to evacuate skipper Philippe Anglade, who was also injured, his son Jean-Philippe Anglade and the body of Max Delannoy.

PV Mein Schiff 1 arrived at Agecanonix’s position at 2130 UTC on November 27. Conditions were challenging, with an easterly Force 8 wind blowing, and rough seas of 4-5 metres.

The 300-metre ship was positioned to create a lee for the rescue operation. The ship’s lifeboat was deployed and attempted an approach towards the Agecanonix. With winds gusting over 40kts the rescue operation had to be aborted. PV Mein Schiff 1 then remained on station waiting for the weather to improve and for daylight to break.

At around 1400 the following day, November 28, MRCC Ponta Delgada reported that the rescue operation was successfully completed, with both crew and the deceased safely on board. The PV Mein Schiff 1 set a course for Funchal, Madeira.

The Agecanonix was abandoned at approximate position 29° 3.71 N, 026° 30.38 W and continues to be tracked by MRCC via the on-board YB tracker.

In their statement on the incident ARC organisers World Cruising Club added, “Our thoughts are very much with the Anglade and Delannoy families during this sad and difficult time.

“World Cruising Club would also like to express their sincere gratitude to all the staff at the MRCC’s involved in coordinating the incident, and in particular to the Captain, officers and crew of PV Mein Schiff 1.”