French coastguards search for missing Quiksilver boss
January 30, 2018
The French coastguard has launched a massive rescue operation for Pierre Agnes, the chief executive of US surf wear retailer Boardriders, after his sailboat was found washed ashore.
Maritime authorities said two boats and three helicopters were scouring the Bay of Biscay waters off Hossegor, a surfing resort just north of Biarritz on the south west coast from where the 54-year-old Agnes set sail early in the morning.
The area is known for intense, sometimes dangerous waves, making it a major draw among surfers.
The port authorities say earlier in the day they received a message from Agnes indicating that he was delaying his return because of thick fog. Later, his boat was found empty on the shore near Hossegor.
"An air and sea search operation is underway," the Landes prefecture said in a statement.
Winds were light, the prefecture added, but waves as high as eight feet were hampering visibility.
Boardriders, controlled by US private equity firm Oaktree Capital, owns the popular surf wear brand Quiksilver.
ap/jm (Reuters, AP)