Sarah Outen in survival mode awaiting rescue!

[lenseman]

. . . . and whilst we are at it, spare a thought for Sarah Outen who is rowing the north Pacific, west to east.

She is currently right in the middle of a severe typhoon "MAWAR" (Rosie). Wind speeds in excess of 70mph.

Her actual position is 36° 35.180'N 151° 18.950'E and nothing has been heard from her for over 20 hours since the typhoon struck. One of her last messages stated:

"Now on storm rations: Mars bars, custard creams and peanuts.Drinking as little as poss to avoid needing the loo."


http://www.flickr.com/photos/14499868@N00/7161342643/in/photostream

She is the little red boat in the south east of the typhoon!

I wish and prey for her safety.

UPDATE 0900Z:

Sarah safe and well, but to be picked up by Coast Guard

While on her solo row across the North Pacific Ocean, Sarah has been hit by the tropical storm, Mawar and her boat, Gulliver, has rolled on several occasions. The boat has been damaged, the extent of which is as yet unknown. The team has however spoken to Sarah and she is safe and doing well.

Following an emergency call from Sarah, the Japanese Coast Guard sent a plane to assess the situation and is now sending a boat to pick Sarah up on Friday pm JST, 8th June, 2012. A Coast Guard plane is staying overhead to keep an eye on Sarah.

At this stage, no further details can be confirmed but we will post further information as and when it becomes available.

Posted on June 7, 2012 by Sarah

UPDATE 1630Z:

Sarah Outen ‏@SarahOuten

CABIN SOAKED.WRAPPED IN UNION JACK IN PLACE OF SOGGY SLEDPING BAG.HOLDING ON FOR 2MW (tomorrow). 20HRS LEFT.

She hopes to be rescued tomorrow sometime around 1000Z. She is 600nm east of Japan on a solo voyage rowing across the north Pacific!

 

[MoodySabre]

Blimey O'Riley - I have no idea why people do these things but I'm glad they do and even gladder when they survive.

Sometimes when I have been out on my own and it has got a bit breezier than ideal I say to myself "Get a grip - this is only the river and half a mile from the shore"

 

[lenseman]

I have an interest in Sarah Outen as she was at Oxford University with my daughter who studied Psychology and Neuroscience at St Hilda's College Oxford.

 

[lenseman]

Just in via Dee Caffari:

Tropical storm Mawar, has also claimed Charlie Martell. 280 miles from Sarah Outen he also awaits rescue.

And from Charlie Martell's web-site:

BREAKING NEWS 1520BST 7 JUNE

At approximately 0900BST Charlie had to issue a distress call to Falmouth Coastguard, following damage sustained to his boat while passing through tropical storm Mawar. Strong winds and heavy seas led to the repeated capsize of his boat Blossom. She then pitch-poled, causing structural damage and leaving Charlie no choice but to abort the voyage and call for assistance.

The team’s emergency procedures have been put into action and Shore Support is co-ordinating the rescue attempt with Falmouth and the Japanese Coastguard.

Charlie is unhurt and still on-board Blossom. The storm has not yet subsided, although it appears to be past its peak and winds are soon expected to drop to more manageable levels.

A fast patrol vessel is on its way to Charlie’s location and is expected to arrive alongside him at approximately 0200hrs on 9 June.

Charlie’s family have been informed of the situation.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...wait-rescue-from-pacific-attempt-7827673.html

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[jonjo]

Do these long distance rescues get cross charged to the Foreign Office?

 

[Seajet]

For rowing across oceans and a very good true story, try the excellent book ' A Fighting Chance' by Chay Blythe & John Ridgeway.

I was lucky enough to visit the excellent Exeter Maritime museum when it was going.

Among the exhibits was the boat used by the couple of ordinary blokes, rowing the Atlantic at the same time as the SAS hardened Ridgeway & Blythe; the civilians' boat was found adrift without them, the rusty transistor radio sitting there was very poignant.

 

[lenseman]

. . . . Among the exhibits was the boat used by the couple of ordinary blokes, rowing the Atlantic at the same time as the SAS hardened Ridgeway & Blythe; the civilians' boat was found adrift without them, the rusty transistor radio sitting there was very poignant.

Full story, as best it can be told, here:

http://www.oceanrowing.com/Graham_Walters/Puffin/Press/TT_Dec_Jan2004.htm

 

[lenseman]

. . . . I was lucky enough to visit the excellent Exeter Maritime museum when it was going.

Among the exhibits was the boat used by the couple of ordinary blokes, rowing the Atlantic at the same time as the SAS hardened Ridgeway & Blythe; . . . . . .

I have done a little more digging and I think that the rowing boat you saw in Exeter apparently belonged to a 22 year old who was lost at sea and not the 1966 misadventure mentioned above.

"Andrew Wilson was the youngest of the victims. He was just 22 when he set out in his home-made 20ft boat from Newfoundland. Nothing was seen or heard of him until a crofter on a remote Scottish island found the wrecked Nautica in April 1981.

His mother, Iris, and other members of the Holy Trinity Church, Bracknell, had prayed for his safety every Sunday. After Wilson’s boat found a home in Exeter maritime museum, Iris became an annual visitor, leaving a solitary rose on Nautica’s deck. She is now thought to be dead"

http://www.oceanrowing.com/Memorial/Media/times_online_20march03.htm

 

[Seajet]

Lenseman,

it's a while ago now of course, but I thougt it was 'Puffin', rowed by journalist David Johnstone and another chap whose name I can't find in a quick skim of 'A Fighting Chance'.

I did read a book about Puffins' attempt, David Johnstone sounded a larger than life figure but I suspect it was Ridgeway & Blythes' SAS background which got them through, in those days of relatively poor equipment, food etc.

In more cynical moments I can't help wondering how much the rowing helped, or did these boats just naturally drift / get blown from the U.S. to Europe - Ireland !

 

[7htas]

On the subject of crossing oceans on human power...I'm quite keen on one day; getting together an ocean crossing pedal powered boat. I know it's been done before loads; I've followed a few projects over the years, some a success, some not.

I'm mad on road cycling, I regularly clock over 100 miles per week; so the endurance side of things would be right up my street. The plan is to try and set a record time for crossing the Atlantic, with a three man team, using my contacts within cycling. I'm not at the stage where I know enough about boat design, and engineering...but I will be in a few years!