It’s never a good sign when your boat washes up on shore and you’re not on it, which is what happened in the case of Pierre Agnes.

The 54-year-old CEO of Quiksilver’s parent company, Boardriders, had gone out fishing in his 36-foot (11-metre) boat on Tuesday morning. That’s the washed up boat you’re looking at above, found near a popular surfing spot north of Biarritz in France.

After heading out early, he later sent a message to port authorities, saying he was delaying his return because of “thick fog”. Despite an extensive search effort, including four helicopters, two boats and a jet ski, he was not found.

More below from the Guardian:

The former surfing champion joined Quiksilver in 1998 and rose in the ranks until he became chief executive in 2014 of surfwear retailer Boardriders, which owns Roxy and DC shoes along with Quiksilver.

He managed the California-based company from Quiksilver’s European headquarters in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, a seaside town not far from France’s border with Spain.

Another picture of the boat shows that it was quite banged up on one side:

More on the conditions in the area from the LA Times:

Water temperatures were in the low to mid-50s, and that stretch of coastline is known for its fast, big and heavy barrel waves, making it a popular spot for surfers. At this time of winter there are also perilous riptides and shifting sandbanks…

The final word to Kelly Slater, who was clearly touched by the news, posting this on Instagram:

[sources:guardian&latimes]