Éric Tabarly

Éric Tabarly (July 24, 1931 in Nantes – June 14, 1998) was a notable French sailor.

A former officer in the French navy who is often considered the father of French yachting, Tabarly was a record-setting distance sailor who won several notable races aboard his boats, all named "Pen Duick". He was lost at sea when struck by a gaff during heavy swell and knocked overboard from his yacht near Wales while on his way to the Fife Regatta in Scotland. His body was recovered five weeks later off the coast of Ireland by a French fishing trawler.

Tabarly was a two-time champion of the OSTAR, winning in 1964 — for which he was awarded the Légion d'honneur — and 1976. He also competed twice in the Whitbread Round the World Race, finishing second in 1973 and seventh in 1993.

External links

* [http://www.sailingworld.com/article.jsp?ID=200804&typeID=398&catID=608&exclude= An obituary of Tabarly.]
* [http://www.ybw.com/auto/newsdesk/19980514131724ywlnews.html A description of the fatal accident.]
* [http://www.klassischeyachten.de/penduick/fotos1.php Pen Duick]
* [http://www.pathedistribution.com/accueil/filmavenir.php?IDFilm=1725 2008 tribute: "Tabarly", a documentary film directed by Pierre Marcel, with musical soundtrack by Yann Tiersen (in French).]