Skipper freed from capsized Vendee Globe sailboat

Published 1:08 pm Tuesday, January 6, 2009

PARIS — French skipper Jean Le Cam was freed from his capsized yacht in a daring rescue by a rival west of Cape Horn in the Vendee Globe solo around-the-world race on Tuesday.

Le Cam was reported by race officials to be healthy and aboard the PRB, the boat of fellow skipper Vincent Riou.

The rescue came as a surprise. Organizers expected a Chilean naval vessel to extract Le Cam on Wednesday.

Riou was the first to reach Le Cam’s yacht, which capsized overnight Monday. Riou reported to officials that he could hear Le Cam shouting from the overturned boat.