Career
In 1972, he started the construction of a 72m (236 feet) 4 masted monohull for the 1976 "Transat". He broke his right ankle, underwent 22 surgeries, and got back on his feet for the solitary transatlantic race. On November 5, 1978, he took part in his last race, the first Route du Rhum.
On November 16, 1978, as he passed the Azores, he sent his last radio message saying that everything was alright and sailing well.
Neither his boat Manureva nor his body were ever foundation