ARC Yachts In Dramatic Atlantic Rescue
Cowes 29 November 2001, 20:00UTC
Late this afternoon (Thursday 29/11) the ARC Communications Net once again proved its worth, when three ARC yachts were involved in the dramatic rescue of a French sailor from his sinking yacht.
The British Beneteau 47.7 Jus'Do It picked up a distress call on VHF radio from a nearby non ARC yacht Sagitair, reporting with rudder problems. After contacting ARC control in Cowes, a fleet wide request for assistance was sent out over the ARC communications net, and the Falmouth MRCC contacted. ARC yachts Candela and Spirit of Clyde were closest to the distress vessel and diverted to assist.
Arriving at the location at 19:19hrs UTC with little time to spare, the French crewman was taken off Sagitair onto the Moody 38 Spirit of Clyde. Although the smaller yacht, Spirit of Clyde had fewer crew and was therefore better able to accommodate the unexpected guest, reported Björn Ståhl, skipper of the Swedish yacht Candela, which provided communications assistance for the rescue.
It is believed that Sagitair had just one person onboard and all involved in the rescue are reported well. The distressed yacht has been abandoned and is expected to sink within the next few hours. Falmouth MRCC have issued a warning to shipping in the area, while both Spirit of Clyde and Candela are continuing onto St.Lucia.
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