Bay Of Biscay

French Coastguard Searches for Quiksilver Boss Missing at Sea

The French coastguard on Tuesday searched for Pierre Agnes, the chief executive of U.S. surfwear retailer Boardriders Inc, after his 36-foot (10.97 m) sailboat was found washed up on the country's Atlantic coast. Rescuers were scouring the Bay of Biscay waters off Hossegor, a surfing resort from where the 54-year-old Agnes set sail early in the morning, the Landes prefecture said. Agnes sent a message to port authorities indicating that he was delaying his return because of thick fog. His beached boat was later found empty not far from Hossegor.

Bay of Biscay Sailboat Racers Leave Roscoff

In a north-east wind of around 15 knots, the 'Figaro Safran-Guy Cotten' set sail for Les Sables d'Olonne on the Breton coast with 37 other competitors in the third and penultimate stage of the this year's  La Solitaire du Figaro - Eric Bompard race. A mixture of navigating along the coast of Britanny and offshore racing in the Bay of Biscay, this 505-mile leg (926km) will be played out downwind, reaching and upwind in winds shifting from 5 to 20 knots. There will be difficult and varied conditions, but it is a challenge that skipper Gwénolé Gahinet says he is ready for.

FIPOFIX Making Second Transatlantic Crossing

The extreme sailor Sedlacek passed the Bermuda’s. Already 1,200 nautical miles in the wake of the FIPOFIX. Departing on May 16, 2014 at 17:40 MESZ from West Palm Beach (U.S.) for the second crossing race to Les Sables d’Olonne (France), the extreme sailor Harald Sedlacek and his only 4.9 meter short volcanic prototype FIPOFIX reached on Sunday evening the north of the Bermuda’s. The second record crossing race which brings the extreme sailor back to Europe, is going until now without any technical problems.

Rowing Record Attempt on Course for Success

Sedlacek rounds Cape Finisterre, approximately 4,200 nautical miles left to St. Augustine, U.S. Thursday 23.01.2014, at 16.36 UTC Harald Sedlacek and his volcanic-miniboat FIPOFIX have passed Cape Finisterre, a key waypoint for his record run. Almost one week Sedlacek had a long battle against the storm cells, breaking sea and treacherous flow labyrinth in the wintery Bay of Biscay. During few hours the FIPOFIX runs on SSW-course parallel to the Portuguese Atlantic coast. “I am incredibly relieved to have made the Bay of Biscay despite to the recent problems with the board electronics.

2nd Start-Countdown for Volcanic Fibre Mini Fipofix

Only three days left to the restart of our transatlantic-record attempt  single-handed – nonstop – without any external assistance. The Austrian technology company Fipofix and the Austrian art of engineering set new standards. From continent to continent, "Proof of Principle” stands for the world first attempt to cross the North Atlantic in an only 16 foot (4.90 meters length) sailing boat, which is entirety out of volcanic fibres, single-handed, nonstop and without any external assistance from east to west and subsequently from west to east by the dreadful northern route.

New Start Date: Norbert Sedlacek

The electricity breaks down and the collision with a floating object forced Norbert Sedlacek to stop over! The new start date for Norbert’s world record attempt: 12.01.2014, 12:00 Gijón (SP). "Fortunately, the world record attempts are not in danger on the continent," joked Norbert Sedlacek after heading his boat which had the electrical problems towards the harbor of Gijón in the Spanish Bay of Biscay. As a bonus, the boat had a crash with a floating object brought up by the…

Weather-bound Trans-Atlantic Yacht Race Starts

The 11th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre yacht race started under grey, drizzling skies in light winds at 1300hrs (local) off Le Havre’s Saint Adresse beach. The 44 boats, 26 Class 40s, six Multi 50s, 10 IMOCA Open 60s and two MOD70s broke the start line doing 8 knots. The boats head three miles to the France Info mark before heading down the Channel towards Itajaí, Brazil. The Class 40 fleet are required to make a weather stop in Roscoff, 190 miles from Le Havre to sit out a big low pressure system which would probably hit them in the Bay of Biscay at the weekend.

High Seas Push Back Transatlantic Sailboat Race Start

With a worsening forecast for difficult weather in the Atlantic and Bay of Biscay through Monday night into Tuesday and immediately thereafter, (squalls to 50kts) Transat Jacques Vabre directors have decided to postpone Monday’s scheduled start to a later date. “Winds 30 to 50 knots which could endanger the skippers and their boats are forecast. We are well aware that classes such as IMOCA could start. “Our decision is based on the forecast that we could get away from Le Havre  but with difficult conditions and some uncertainly at the ras Blanchard…