Tragically, Yvan Bourgnon’s older brother, Laurent, 49, disappeared while diving in Tahiti on June 24, the day after Yvan completed his epic solo voyage.
Like Yvan, Laurent was a top-level multihull racer, winning many shorthanded races including the Transat Jacques Vabre, the Twostar, Quebec-St. Malo and Route du Rhum before he retired from top-level racing in 2008 to go cruising with his family.
His death followed the untimely passing of renowned French yachtswoman Florence Arthaud, 58, who perished in a helicopter accident in Chile last March. The hard-charging Arthaud was a pioneering sailor whose successes—including a hard-fought Route du Rhum victory—paved the way for other female sailors to reach the top levels of the sport.
Photo courtesy of bobostudio
MHS Fall 2015
