What happened to Jean-Jacques Savin? The navigator, who disappeared during his transatlantic crossing, remains untraceable. The Bordeaux prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation for “worrying disappearance”.

He is a regular on transoceanic crossings. Whereas Jean Jacques Savin rowed across the Atlantic Ocean since January 1, the 75-year-old Girondin has now been missing for five days. During the night of Thursday to Friday, the two distress beacons of the French adventurer had been activated, indicating that the navigator was “in great difficulty”. Shortly before, on its Facebook page, the browser had reported encountering some difficulties. So would his expedition have turned into a tragedy? This is what fear, without too much doubt, the investigators while this Tuesday morning, the Girondin remains untraceable.

Research interrupted

On Saturday, Jean-Jacques Savin’s boat, the “Audacieux” canoe, was found turned upside down off the Azores, a Portuguese archipelago in the middle of the ocean. After this announcement, his family, in particular his daughter Manon, issued a statement on January 22 explaining that the lifeless body had been found. But that was before the Portuguese Navy issued a denial. A spokesperson explained that during the rescue operation, rescuers had “strong reasons to believe that a body could be found inside” but that “The search ended Saturday at the end of the day without it being possible to find the victim”. This Monday, Lisbon clarified that there is currently no “more resources committed to search for French citizens, but an advisory has been issued to alert vessels in the area.”, hoping for a clue. The Bordeaux prosecutor’s office has announced the opening of a investigation for “worrying disappearance”.

UN “outstanding adventurer”

Jean-Jacques Savin is a former military parachutist with a unique career. After his career in the army, the man described as an “outstanding adventurer” by those around him was, among other things, a private pilot, curator of a National Park in Africa or even a gold digger. On the leisure side, the sportsman was known for his extraordinary shows: he had successfully completed the round trip crossing of the Arcachon basin by swimming, had competed in the French triathlon championship, obtained second place and had successfully climbed Mont-Blanc in 2015. It is for his crossing the Atlantic aboard a barrel in 2019 that he had the most talked about. For 127 days, he had let himself be guided by the currents and the waves to the West Indies aboard a boarding of 6 square meters.