The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) coordinated the search and rescue operation for a French yachtsman in the Indian Ocean, approximately 1300 kilometres south west of Perth, Western Australia.
On 21 October, around 12.45am, AMSA was notified of a dismasted yacht taking on water. The French yacht ‘Laaland’ was participating in the Golden Globe race. The yacht subsequently activated a distress beacon around 5.30am.
AMSA tasked the ‘Challenger’ jet to locate the vessel and report back on its condition. The Challenger arrived on scene around 10.00am and assessed the situation. The search crew on board the Challenger jet were able to confirm the yacht was upright and floating, although its mast was broken.
The French sailor was uninjured, moving around his yacht attempting repairs and did not request any additional supplies.
On 22 October, AMSA tasked the nearby bulk carrier ‘Shiosai’ to assist. Another racing yacht, ‘SV Alizes II’, was also diverted to the area. The MV Shiosai arrived on scene around 2am Tuesday 23 October.
AMSA’s Challenger jet and a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft conducted flights over the area to provide assistance with the rescue.
The MV Shiosai recovered the yachtsman from his yacht around noon on 23 October. He will travel with the bulk carrier to its original destination of Las Palmas, Canary Islands.
