and record-setter Blackfin. Tabarly returned to naval service in February 1971 and appointed to the Technical Inspection for Physical Education and Sports. The same year, he won the Falmouth-Gibraltar on Pen Duick III and the Middle Sea Race, and the following year, the Transpac. In 1973, he sailed in the first edition of the Whitbread. Tabarly was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in 1976. In 1980, Tabarly sailed the hydrofoil trimaran, Paul Ricard, on a transatlantic race, beating Charlie Barr's long-standing transatlantic record. Tabarly was deeply involved with the development of this revolutionary trimaran. In 1975, he worked with a team of naval architects and another team from Dassault company on the design of a foiler-type trimaran (equipped with foils). Subsequently, he searched for financing to build this vessel for 4 years. In 1979, he met Paul Ricard who agreed to finance him. This 16.50 meter aluminum trimaran displacing 7 tonnes is characterized by its unique, streamlined connecting arm which rests on two small floats, themselves fitted with foils (submerged streamlined carrier surfaces). Tabarly then sailed the Paul Ricard and beat the record for crossing the North Atlantic, held since 1905 by Charlie Barr's fully manned schooner Atlantic, thereby launching a race for crossing records by multihulls. In June 1980, Tabarly joined the Académie de Marine. He was promoted to Capitaine de Corvette in 1982. Retirement and fatal accident Tabarly retired from active service in July 1985. He was promoted to Capitaine de Fregate of the naval reserves in August 1988. In 1994, he raced the Whitbread again. In 1997, Tabarly won the Fastnet Race on Aquitaine Innovations. In June 1998, the Pen Duick was en route from Cornwall to Scotland in order to participate in a rallye of boats designed by William Fife, which included the Pen Duick. The crew consisted of Tabarly and 4 other people. While in transit in the Irish Sea, during the night of 12 to 13 June, a spar threw Tabarly overboard and he drowned. A detailed account of the accident was made by people who were on the boat with Tabarly when it occurred. His body was recovered by the trawler An Yvidig on 20 July. An autopsy confirmed the identity of the body and the cause of death as drowning. Career Wins OSTAR (Plymouth-Newport) : 1964 on Pen Duick II and 1976 on Pen Duick VI Morgan Cup : 1967 on Pen Duick