In 2000, Trevor Wilson made an attempt at a lifelong dream. He set out on a solo sail across the Atlantic from the U.K. A broken rudder ended that trip and he had to be rescued and lost his sailboat. Undaunted, he tried again in 2002, but got caught in a hurricane. He broke three ribs, was rescued, and lost his sailboat. In 2005 he tried again, this time making it to Brazil – but then another storm, a lost mast, and finally a sinking off Guyana led to another rescue – and a third lost sailboat. This morning, the 72 year old sailor and author of the book “Sailing Alone Across The Atlantic” had to be rescued again, and he lost his sailboat.
This morning the USCG Reported:
“Wilson activated his 406 megahertz emergency position indicating radio beacon at approximately 6 a.m., which alerted the Coast Guard 5th District watchstanders. Watchstanders deployed an aircrew aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., to search the EPRIB’s indicated location. The helicopter crew located the sailboat Erma and made contact via VHF-FM radio. Wilson reported to the aircrew he had been unconscious for seven hours and believed that he had fallen and hit his head. The aircrew deployed a rescue swimmer who took Wilson off his sailboat and took him to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.”
Update: The Coast Guard released video of the rescue this afternoon.
[vimeo]https://vimeo.com/65774643[/vimeo]
Below is a video of Wilson and Erma leaving England in July of 2010. It’s unclear how that trip ended, but we know both Trevor and his boat, Erma, were sailing a short 90 or so miles from the US coast just yesterday. Personally, I hope he was headed back home after a successful crossing to America. If not, I’m almost certain he’ll be trying again soon.