UK’s HM Coastguard along with three merchant vessels were involved in the rescue of a sailor from the Atlantic Ocean over the weekend, after his yacht lost its mast in stormy conditions.
More specifically, the Coastguard’s Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) received two distress beacon alerts from the yacht 700-miles west of Ireland, on 14 October.
The vessel had extensive damage and was drifting in very poor weather conditions. Thanks to the two beacons onboard however, the Coastguard was able to locate the yacht and begin the search and rescue.
A request was made to deploy two aircraft, which identified the stricken yacht using coordinates provided by the JRCC. At the scene, the aircraft provided communications with the vessel.
At the same time HM Coastguard was broadcasting to all shipping within 300-miles and three vessels responded, altering their courses to intercept the yacht.
After four unsuccessful attempts by another merchant vessel overnight, the survivor, an American national and experienced sailor, was rescued just after 6.30am on 16 October by the motor tanker Amax Anthem.
