Cruise Ship Recovers Solo Sailor from Life Raft

[c.captain]

The solo sailing yahoos like this Frenchman need to be stopped from their stupidity as a violation of the rule of lookout and for being a hazard to navigation on the high seas. Secondly, what if lives had been lost in the rescue attempt? Other mariners should not be forced to risk their lives for some amateur's folly! Also, how much money was spent to save his sorry ass?

Cruise Ship Recovers Solo Sailor from Life Raft

January 21, 2013

By MarEx

Cruise ship, PV Orion, has successfully recovered a solo sailor who had spent 56 hours in a life raft in the Southern Ocean after his yacht was de-masted in rough weather last week.

The sailor is now being taken to Hobart, due to arrive early tomorrow (Tuesday) morning. He is in generally good health, with minor superficial injuries.

The recovery operation took around one hour, with better than expected weather assisting the Master and crew of the Orion to effect a successful rescue.

The rescue operation, which lasted three days, involved up to five aircraft who maintained near-continuous communication with the sailor while PV Orion made its way towards the life raft. The aircraft also made several supply drops to the sailor, including food, water, communications equipment, additional life rafts and a survival suit.

A number of challenges presented throughout the operation, including communication difficulties with the French-native sailor. French interpreters were on board two of the aircraft to help gain more specific information about the sailor’s condition.

The solo sailor’s yacht was de-masted and suffered hull damage in rough weather conditions during his round the world journey.

An associate of the sailor contacted AMSA early on Friday morning after the yacht had been de-masted. After making contact with the sailor, who did not declare he was in distress at the time, AMSA advised him to head towards Hobart.

At approximately 1:00pm AEDT that afternoon, AMSA detected an emergency beacon activation from the sailor 500 nautical miles south west of Hobart. AMSA issued a broadcast to shipping and the PV Orion, at the time more than 600 nautical miles from the position of the yacht, diverted course to begin the 60 hour journey to the life raft.

The experienced sailor had been at sea for several months.

AMSA wishes to thank all the people involved in the rescue operation, including the Master and crew of the PV Orion and French interpreters from Alliance Francaise de Hobart. The aircraft involved included AMSA’s Essendon-based Dornier, two RAAF C130s from Richmond in NSW and two commercial aircraft.

I mean solo in the Southern Ocean? EFFING FOOL!

[Jetryder223]

I assume this sailor was fully insured prior to departure and all aircraft, manpower, supply drops, ship diversion, rescue and lodging will be fully reimbursed in a timely fashion.

I mean, every adventurer wants to do the responsible thing, right?

[Tugs]

I assume this sailor was fully insured prior to departure and all aircraft, manpower, supply drops, ship diversion, rescue and lodging will be fully reimbursed in a timely fashion.

I mean, every adventurer wants to do the responsible thing, right?

Yep, the Check is in the mail and our Government cares about us and would never do anything that is against the Constitution!

[c.captain]

I assume this sailor was fully insured prior to departure and all aircraft, manpower, supply drops, ship diversion, rescue and lodging will be fully reimbursed in a timely fashion.

I mean, every adventurer wants to do the responsible thing, right?

Did you see that the ORION had to divert 600miles to save this BOOB! How about that cost?

[tugsailor]

This rescue followed a dismasting and sinking due to heavy weather. It does not appear to have had anything whatsoever to do with the entirely incidental fact that he was sailing solo. Most of the around the world races (some of which have been run for decades) transit the Southern Ocean. Dismastings and heavy weather damage are not uncommon on that transit. Ocean racing is an extreme sport. I bet this Frenchman would not ignore a lighthouse, islets, grounded wreaks, breaking surf, and warnings from local park rangers and lose his vessel by running onto a coral reef at full speed.


Our brain dead "nanny state" government has banned (or regulated out of existence) too many things already. They need to focus on teaching the Navy some basic seamanship skills so that we don't have a naval collision or grounding every month before they start worrying about regulating ocean racing.



We ought to have bigger fish to fry.

[c.captain]

How much you wanna bet the dismasting happened while the Frog was asleep or too incapacitated from fatigue to do a damned thing to save his vessel? SINGLEHANDING IN THE OCEAN IS ON ITS VERY FACE UNSAFE!

[Bayrunner]

Yet another reason why WAFIs are called WAFIs!!