The MOD70 Virbac-Paprec capsized on Thursday afternoon during a training session ahead of the Transat Jacques Vabre, off Belle Ile.
Her crew Jean-Pierre Dick and Roland Jourdain were sailing 15-20 knots of wind. They were surprised by a strong gust and could not stop their multihull overturning. Their mast broke into three pieces.
Roland Jourdain was able to protect themselves under the hull, while Jean-Pierre Dick was violently ejected into the water.
Initially, both crew were declared safe and sound, with some back pain for Jean-Pierre. Eventually Dick was airlifted to hospital in Lorient. A compression of a vertebrae was diagnosed, it remains under observation for two days.
The boat was towed to Lorient with the The Cross, SNSM (lifeboat) in attendance long with the Virbac-Paprec technical team.