Background
A violent storm has shaken the fleet of the Golden Globe Race while she was in the Deep South on Friday, September 21, 2018. Winds of 70 knots and waves of 14m battered the frail boats, causing two of the competitors to dismast and turn over: the Irish Gregor Mcguckin on his Biscay 36 Masthead ketch Hanley Energy Endurance and the Indian Abhilash Tomy, on his Ketch Thuriya, a replica of Suhaili, the boat with which Sir Robin Knox Johnston won the race in 1969.
He was seriously injured in the back and was waiting for help, immobilized in his bunk, without being able to feed or hydrate himself and without access to his first aid kit. In communication with Race HQ, he nevertheless managed to send messages to inform them of his situation. The last one dated 23/09 at 0826 UTC: "Iced tea cans lying around. I drank some. I'm throwing up all the time. Chest burning."
A long wait
Situated in the southern Indian Ocean some 1,900 miles south-west of Perth in Australia, the Indian skipper had to be patient to be rescued. The Irish skipper managed to set up a makeshift rig to sail - his engine having suffered from the storm - to Abhilash Tomy, 90 miles from his position. The Australian and Indian authorities also dispatched rescue teams.
Successful rescue
But it was finally the French patrol boat Osiris that first reached the dismasted boat after 4 days of long waiting for the Indian skipper. The latter was rescued at dawn on Monday 24th September, after the patrol boat reached the sailboat at 5:30 am UTC.
The Rescue Coordination Centre in Canberra, which co-organised the rescue, says: "Tomy is conscious, he is talking and he is on board Osiris. Australian and Indian long-range P8 Orion reconnaissance aircraft are circling over the rescue area. Abhilash's position is 39.32.79S and 78.3.29E."
Weather conditions are good with 15-20 knots southwest, 2 m swell and good visibility. The Indian skipper - a naval commander for life - will be transported to the island of Amsterdam for a full medical examination.
Evacuation of the Irish skipper
The Irish skipper for his part is still heading towards Thuriya under jury rigging and is making headway at a speed of 2.2 knots. This 24/09 in the morning, he was 25 miles to the west and in radio contact with the reconnaissance aircraft, he asked to be evacuated from his sailboat.
Even if she is not in distress, she has 1,900 miles to cover across the Southern Ocean to Western Australia under makeshift rigging and without an engine (her fuel was contaminated when the boat overturned), and without a windvane gear. He too will be transferred to the hospital on the island of Amsterdam to be checked.
He has since been picked up on board the Osiris and is safe with his Indian competitor.
