HM Coastguard completes long-distance rescue of lone yachtsman

HM Coastguard has successfully completed the coordination of a long-distance rescue of a yachtsman more than 500 miles off the coast of Cornwall.

An EPIRB beacon alert was received for the UK Registered Vancouver 34 yacht Helena in an area 513 nautical miles south west of Lizard Point in Cornwall at 12:20am on Friday 22 May. French maritime patrol aircraft and RAF aircraft supported the operation to locate the small vessel which was found to be disabled and dismasted in the Atlantic and, after communicating by radio on scene, the lone yachtsman confirmed that he was uninjured but needed to get off the yacht. Two large commercial vessels offered their assistance for the rescue efforts despite being over 20 hours away.

The Seaways Reymar, which is a 229-metre oil tanker, diverted to rendezvous with the stricken yacht by Saturday, and in challenging conditions, the master and crew of the Seaways Reymar were able to get the yachtsman on board in the afternoon, despite 3-4 metre swells during the operation. They will now continue on their voyage to the USA.

“This long-distance rescue has involved coordination with the French Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre and support from the RAF because at 500 miles offshore it is well beyond the range of rescue helicopters,” says HM Coastguard Controller, Matthew West.

“The yachtsman was rescued by tremendous seamanship demonstrated by the master and crew of the Seaways Reymar, who diverted their course and remained on scene for eight hours to ensure the safe recovery of the sailor. As well as the skipper’s EPIRB satellite beacon which first alerted us to the situation on Friday, we were also aided by the fact that the vessel was transmitting on AIS which was very helpful in pinpointing the position of the yacht.”

The rescue played out over several days, with HM Coastguard first seeking help on May 22 when the yacht was believed to be in trouble off Spain. An EPIRB beacon alert was received in an area 500 miles north west off Cape Finisterre.

Its location meant that the nearest vessel which could help was 22 hours away with a second one 27 hours away. Two vessels were on their way to the position and a French maritime patrol aircraft was sent to search the area.

HMC was unable to get in touch with any of the listed contacts and appealed for help to get hold of someone who might be able to assist with some further details of the 10-metre yacht and its crew.

HMC eventually made successful contact with the skipper of the yacht, as the French maritime patrol aircraft located it – without a mast and drifting. The yachtsman confirmed that the vessel was watertight and he was not injured.

The RAF provided a Hercules aircraft to keep a presence at the scene while waiting for the merchant vessels to arrive.