Code red for Indian competitor Abhilash Tomy
A violent storm hit the solo sailors in the Golden Globe Race while they were in the Deep South, a few thousand miles from southern Australia. Waves 14 m high and winds of 70 knots hit the competitors this September 21, 2018 causing great damage and including a Code Red. Indeed, the Indian competitor sent a worrying message at 12:09 UTC the same day "Turned over. Dismasted. Severe back injury. Can't get up" and no further news was received.
The skipper did not make contact either by text message or telephone, nor did he activate his distress beacon. This is unusual and suggests that he remains incapacitated.
Finally, on September 22nd, very early in the morning, Race HQ finally received a text message from Abhilash Tomy, the Indian solo sailor "EPIRB ACTIVE. CAN'T WALK. MAYBE YOU NEED A STRETCHER. Position: 39' 25.297 S 077' 30.629 E on 22 Sep 02:28 UTC" before receiving at 21h57 a new message"MAUX BOUGER LES DOIGTS DE PIEDS. I FEEL NUMB. CAN'T EAT OR DRINK. DIFFICULT TO REACH MY EMERGENCY BAG."
Ongoing relief operations
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) in Canberra has successively detected the vessel's emergency signals and is currently coordinating a multinational rescue operation.
A private plane took off from Perth, west of Australia to see the situation and is expected in the area at 02:30 UTC Sunday. The plane has enough fuel to stay on the area for 3 hours, and for its crew to assess the damage on the 36-foot Indian boat, and try to make radio contact with Tomy.
The plane will also fly over Hanley Energy Endurance, the boat of the Irish Gregor McGuckin, who also dismasted during the same storm. McGuckin has since built a makeshift rig and is trying to reach Tomy 90 miles away with the engine.
In addition, the Australian Authorities are hijacking a search and rescue aircraft on Reunion Island to participate in the rescue with the Anzac series frigate HMAS Ballerat preparing to leave Perth. It will take 4-5 days to reach the area but has a helicopter and medical facilities on board.
Independently, the Indian authorities sent a military plane from Mauritius that could reach the area around 23:30 UTC today Saturday and also asked the stealthy Indian frigate INS Satpura and the oil tanker INS Jyoti Mission, currently in exercises off South Africa, to divert.
The competitors divert to rescue the Indian skipper
Gregor McGuckin, is on"CODE ORANGE" alert following the double dismasting of his yacht earlier in the day on 21 September and is less than 100 miles south-west of Tomy Abhilash's position. Secure on board his sailboat Hanley Energy Endurance, he is making his way towards the Indian skipper and estimates he will be able to arrive in the Thuriya area between 18:00 and 24:00 UTC Sunday. He used the spinnaker pole as a makeshift rig, but the metal tube bends in strong gusts. He also has problems with his engine, which keeps stopping, probably since water got inside during his dismasting. Its windvane steering system no longer works, forcing it to steer by hand.
The Estonian skipper Uku Randmaa, currently 400 miles west of the 2 boats in distress, will take 3 days to reach the area and plans to help Gregor.
Dutchman Mark Slats, some 250 miles from the rescue zone, was exempted from going back. He is still facing 40 knot winds and 15 metre waves and was thrown out of his boat on the morning of 22 September during one of the many shocks, was able to return on board thanks to his lifeline. He reports that he has never encountered such bad conditions. A wave struck her boat Ophen Maverick, rushed into the bonnet of the cabin and drowned the electrical wires causing a fire that quickly went out.
