The Portuguese Navy announced, on Sunday, January 23, the suspension of operations to rescue the adventurer Jean-Jacques Savin, missing at sea off the Azores, from Thursday night until Friday.
On Saturday evening, the volunteer team rallied around the 75-year-old ex-soldier, who was solo crossing the Atlantic Ocean and paddling, He had deplored the death and discovery of Mr. Savin’s body Inside one of the two rooms of his boat. The search ended yesterday at the end of the day [samedi] without being able to find the victim.Correction of the Portuguese Navy in a statement, Posted Sunday.
A navy spokeswoman explained, in response to a question by the French news agency (AFP), that during the rescue operation, the rescuers ‘Strong reasons to believe that a body can be found inside’ From the cabin of the boat L’Audacieux, without being able to confirm it because“A very complicated operation due to the strong agitation of the sea and the location where the kayak was”The statement said. One of the merchant ships [mobilisé près de la zone de recherche] He recovered a waterproof bag containing the navigator’s identification documents.also announced by the Portuguese Navy.
Serious power and communication problems
The navigator, who identified himself by crossing the Atlantic Ocean with a barrel in 2019, driven by winds and currents, has since Friday morning worried his relatives, who have not given them any sign of life since last night. From Thursday to Friday. ‘We are very concerned’AFP members of the team, who went missing north of Madeira. “Unfortunately, since 12:34 yesterday morning [vendredi]We no longer have any contact or any appearance of it.”they said after determining that the browser was then turned on Distress beacons, indicating to be “with great difficulty“ ».
On the Facebook page dedicated to her project, Manon, her daughter, reported it “Everything we have”[vait] Immediately in coordination with the French, Portuguese and American rescue services at sea. During the last contacts, Jean-Jacques Savin was offshore, north of Madeira, and was on his way to the small island of Ponta Delgada, in the Azores archipelago, to make repairs.
Shortly after leaving Sagres, in southern Portugal, at 1Verse January, the adventurer was soon diverted by the gale-force winds. Thus its initial course was extended by 900 km. Then he encountered serious power and communication problems.
On Wednesday, on his Facebook page, Jean-Jacques Savin stated that “Strong swell and strong wind”Adding that he has touse [son] Manual Water Maker ». “It costs me physical energy. Don’t worry, I’m not in danger!” he wrote.
He lived in Arès, in the Arcachon Basin, and intended to row across the Atlantic in a canoe and become “Dean of the Atlantic”And the “A way to make fun of old age”. He had celebrated his 75th birthday on January 14 aboard his boat, which is 8 meters long and 1.70 meters wide, equipped with two cabins and a rowing station.
“I’m going on vacation to the open sea”
On board, 300 kilograms of equipment, including freeze-dried food, heating point, harpoon pistol for fishing, electric water maker, guide, mandolin, champagne and foie gras, to celebrate his birthday. “I’m going on vacation to the open sea, I take three months off”He was entertaining himself shortly before his departure.
great athlete and “Adventurer at Heart”Slim and muscular, this former soldier spent more than four months in 2019 in a barrel-shaped boat measuring 3m long and 2.10m in diameter. And so he had crossed the Atlantic Ocean alone, driven by winds and currents.
This former private pilot and curator of a national park in Africa joined the West Indies, which he hoped to rejoin by kayaking. I signed a book, 127 days adrift. Atlantic Ocean in barrelsin his adventure which was also followed by 23,000 people on Facebook. “I will row eight hours a day, and when it blows hard, I lock myself up[rai] »He said it before he started his journey.
