mcga.gov.uk

Re: [url]http://www.mcga.gov.uk/news/latest/index.htm[/url]

Interesting they are heading for Falmouth, Vigo or LaCoruña are 'only' about 290 miles, and straight down wind according to the weather routing data I just loaded.
 
Re: [url]http://www.mcga.gov.uk/news/latest/index.htm[/url]

On the radio this morning it said that the two injured crew have been winched off by a long range American helicopter.
 
Reuters coverage

LONDON, May 22 (Reuters) - American long range helicopters mounted a perilous operation to rescue two injured people from a stricken yacht in the Atlantic Ocean, a coastguard spokesman said on Wednesday.
The two helicopters, based at a U.S. base in Mildenhall, eastern England, hovered above the yacht for more than two hours attempting to winch the pair from the yacht.
"It was an extremely difficult operation. Without long range helicopters, this rescue wouldn't have been possible," the spokesman said.
The Guernsey-registered yacht "Persuader" triggered an emergency beacon on Tuesday afternoon, some 400 miles south-west of Land's End.
The vessel had rolled 360 degrees after being battered by gale force winds and 25ft (7.5 metre) waves, injuring a man and woman on board and snapping off the mast.
"It was too far for conventional helicopters so U.S. Air Force long range Jolly Green Giants, or CH-3E helicopters... were dispatched and reached the yacht early this morning after a four-hour flight and a mid-air refuelling from a Hercules plane," the spokesman said.
One helicopter experienced mechanical problems and had to return to base, leaving a crew member on the yacht while the other eventually managed to complete the rescue.
No further details were available on the condition or identity of the injured man and woman.
The 65ft (20 metre) yacht was sailing from the Caribbean to Britain and had seven people on board. It still had engine power and would continue on to Britain after the rescue, the spokesman said.
((Sinead O'Hanlon, London newsroom, +442075423243, sinead.ohanlon@reuters.com))

For related news, double click on one of the following codes:
[G] [UKI] [EMK] [RNP] [DNP] [PGE] [GB] [NEWS] [WEU] [EUROPE] [US] [SHP] [DIS] [LEN] [RTRS]

Wednesday, 22 May 2002 09:48:01
RTRS [nHOP228598]
 
Re: Reuters coverage

I like the idea of the supposedly "Stricken" yacht proceeding to Falmouth under its own power.
 
Re: Reuters coverage

Rolled through 360deg? Bet it was one of those horrible lightweight marina hoppers.

Oh, no, report says Swan 65.

Never mind. Can't be up to much, only able to do 5kt in a following wind under power.

F9-10 with 8m wave heights?

Yeah? Bet it will be at least F11 and 20m by the time they are back in the club bar.

(but seriously - sounds like they are making a fair stab at helping themselves out of trouble, and it was injury and not panic that needed the choppers)
 
Re: BBC update

Wednesday, 22 May, 2002, 12:06 GMT 13:06 UK
Two rescued from stricken yacht


The yacht was being hit by a force nine gale

Two seriously injured crew members have been airlifted to safety from a stricken British yacht off the coast of Cornwall.
The two casualties were taken by helicopter to RAF St Mawgan where they emerged wrapped in blankets.

They were immediately assessed by paramedics from the West Country Ambulance Service, before being taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro.

The rescue mission was launched after the 65-foot yacht Persuader, with seven people on board, became dismasted and holed in force nine gales on Tuesday afternoon.



Trying to drop rescuers on to the deck and then take casualties off the boat is a very hazardous operation

Coastguard Mark Clark

Two American MH-35 long-range helicopters - known as "Jolly Green Giants" - from RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, a Nimrod aircraft and a refuelling Hercules airtanker were sent to the scene.

At first light, rescue crews began attempts to winch the two men from the Persuader more than 400 miles south-west of Land's End.


Poor weather and rough seas severely hampered the rescue with the yacht pitching in 25-foot seas.

Two winchmen were eventually lowered on to the vessel but one of the helicopters had to return to base when it developed problems with its winch.

The other helicopter managed to lift the injured crew members and their rescuers at 0830 BST.

'Pitching and yawing'

The casualties are being taken to RAF St Mawgan, in Cornwall where they will be properly assessed, but both are thought to have suffered broken ribs and one has internal injuries.

Mark Clark, from the Falmouth Coastguard, said: "The weather was pretty ferocious and has made this a difficult rescue.


One of the injured men is taken for treatment


"The yacht was pitching and yawing in 25-foot seas so trying to drop rescuers on to the deck and then take casualties off the boat was a very hazardous operation."

The Guernsey-registered Persuader was en route to the UK from the Caribbean via the Azores when she ran into difficulties.

Fuel level

The emergency beacon belonging to the yacht, began transmitting from an area 480 miles south-west of Land's End on Tuesday, while the yacht was out of range for UK rescue teams.

Watch officer Terry Collins told BBC News Online the yacht's skipper had confirmed the engine was in good order and there was enough fuel for the remaining five crew members to continue on to Falmouth.

The crew of the helicopter, which refuelled six times during the long mission, was said to be exhausted and have been flown back to their base in Suffolk.
 
Re: Reuters coverage

The last Swan 65 I heard of being rolled 360 degrees was "Sayula II" carrying too little sail after a storm in the Southern Ocean. And they lost neither mast. I agree with HaraldS: 290NM to Bayona sounds a better bet than Falmouth.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top