Offshore sailing legend Francis Joyon has capsized in the 2026 Route du Rhum while competing in the vintage Multihull class. The incident occurred on Monday 2nd November, just south west of Ireland, where Joyon was fighting at the front of his class aboard his classic 60-foot ORMA trimaran. The French skipper is reported to be safe and well, with a rescue operation currently underway.
Joyon is widely revered in the ocean racing world. He was the victor of the dramatic 2018 edition of the transatlantic race, where he pulled off an impressive line honours win sailing the Ultime IDEC Sport. His return to the Route du Rhum in a heritage multihull had been one of the compelling storylines of the 2026 edition.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the volatile nature of the ORMA 60 class. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, these high-octane multihulls were the undisputed darlings of offshore grand prix racing, delivering fiercely competitive fleets and edge-of-the-seat speed. However, their extreme power-to-weight ratios and narrow margins for error made them notoriously precarious.
Following a succession of spectacular, high-profile capsizes and structural failures, most notably during the punishing 2002 Route du Rhum, safety concerns mounted alongside escalating campaign costs and soaring insurance premiums. By the late 2000s, sponsors and skippers had begun pulling back, leading to the class gradually fizzling out. Joyon’s capsize underscores that even the most experienced ocean racers cannot entirely tame these extraordinary machines.
