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A Hong Kong-flagged bulk carrier successfully rescued a skipper from a stricken yacht in the South Indian Ocean last night (December 30).
The 69-year-old solo Dutch skipper, Mr Nico Budel, on board his yacht, the "Hayai", was participating in the second leg of the Portimao Global Ocean Race. But his yacht sustained irreparable damage to the keel and he had to issue a distress call on December 28.
His position was 240 nautical miles NNE of the Crozet Islands, a bleak archipelago deep in the Southern Ocean's Roaring Forties inhabited by a handful of scientists in a research station.
For the past few days, Mr Budel was sailing north out of the Southern Ocean in an attempt to avoid violent storms that were forecast for the area.
The director for the race, Mr Josh Hall, said Mr Budel was in no immediate danger but it was clear that his yacht would not survive the approaching gale force winds without further damaging the keel and it was in danger of capsizing.
"The conditions for rescue were not ideal," said Mr Hall, who along with the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre of Reunion Islands and Captain Singson of the Hong Kong-registered 170,000-tonne capsize bulk carrier, the "CSK Radiance", coordinated the rescue.
The "CSK Radiance" was responding to the distress call and made a 500-plus nautical miles diversion from her Australia to Europe track to participate in the rescue.
Mr Hall noted that there was a seven-metre swell running and a moderate wind of around 20 knots making it difficult to manoeuver a ship of the size of the "CSK Radiance" alongside a small yacht like the "Hayai". He added that clearly Captain Singson and his crew were highly experienced seamen and thanked them profusely for not only diverting to help Mr Budel, but also asked for their skill and determination in pulling off a successful operation.
Finally, Mr Budel was safely transferred from "Hayai" to "CSK Radiance" and he hoped to be airlifted off the ship when passing Cape Town.
Ends/Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Issued at HKT 19:45
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