The Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF) Coast Guard is actively responding to reports of a captain who fell overboard from a vessel en route to Dominica late Tuesday night.
Information reaching the Coast Guard indicates that at approximately 2300 hours on October 21, 2025, Phillippe “Daniel” Jules, Master of SV VOILACTUS, reportedly fell overboard while attempting to avoid being struck by the vessel’s mast. The incident occurred in open waters approximately six nautical miles northeast of Guadeloupe. This Headquarters confirms that coordination efforts continue with the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) Fort-de-France, Commandement de la Gendarmerie, and other key local and regional stakeholders to locate him. The remaining ten persons on board have been confirmed safe within Guadeloupe.
The ABDF Coast Guard regrets receiving official notice of the incident only during the early daylight hours of the following morning, resulting in a delayed response and reduced likelihood of a swift recovery. Despite this, extensive efforts continue as we work tirelessly to transform this unfortunate event into a successful rescue.
The ABDF Coast Guard reaffirms its commitment to ensuring the safety of mariners and all users of the maritime space in and around the sovereign waters of Antigua and Barbuda. The organization further asserts that all available resources are being utilized in pursuit of a favorable outcome. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family and friends of Mr. Jules during this difficult time.
The ABDF Coast Guard also takes this opportunity to urge all mariners to maintain proper safety protocols while in port, at anchor, or underway, including the consistent use of personal flotation devices and man-overboard alert systems. Further updates will be provided as the situation develops.
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Sending strength to his family… Dominica stands with you
Heartbreaking. You leave one island expecting to reach another, and tragedy strikes between. My prayers for his family and crew
The math is not matching in this story.
If he fell while trying to prevent the sail from hitting him how far could the boat move before turning around to rescue him?
Why was he not wearing a harness?
Was he wearing a life jacket?
If not why not?
I know that he is a super good swimmer.
If he was wearing a life jacket it would be visible in the darn night sea.
Was he the lone crew member?
Were all the other people on board passengers?
What attempt if any was made to rescue him?
Who maneuvered the boat to guadeloupe?
There are many more questions that can be asked.
I am just not satisfied with the account that has so far been given.
I verily pray that my friend is found alive.
Too many incidents like this lately. I hope authorities review safety protocols for inter-island vessels.
I pray he’s found alive
I pray he is found. Alive.
Straight Shooter – I can answer some of your questions with a reasonable chance of giving the correct answers.
I have been in the marine safety business for 20 years and have been seeing the way Antiguan seafarers go about their business for quite some time.
It was most likely the boom that struck him, not the sail. This could be mis-reporting on behalf of the correspondent. If it was the sail, not the mast, it might have been the jib which would still leave the mainsail in place and powering the vessel. In this case with possibly no other competent crew on board, the vessel would continue on its way for quite some distance before being brought to a stop. If Mr. Jules was indeed struck by the boom; loss of consciousness is quite likely. I hope this is not the case.
The currents and general weather conditions in that area can be difficult – strong winds ahead of rain and a decent NE’ly running current will have a profound effect on even the strongest of swimmers.
Harness, lifejacket – very unlikely he was utilising either. Common mis practice even amongst more experienced sailors. At night, unless somebody was shining a light to locate him, the lifejacket would not be visible unless it had a strobe attached. Again, in keeping with common Antiguan sailor behaviour, it is most unlikely that the lifejacket was properly equipped. Much more needs to be done by the Marine Authorities in Antigua to enforce basic safety practices. More inspections, more awareness programmes.
My guess is that the remaining people on board were not crew. Voilactus is not a large yacht, and having 11 people on board, at night, well …..
Finally, there is no mention in the article that the boat actually made landfall in Guadeloupe. It appears some kind of message, possibly electronic, was transmitted and acted upon by the French authorities. Possibly.
May Mr. Jules be found safe and sound. We pray for his well-being.
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