Rescue for Loïc Lepage
The French skipper Loïc Lepage who had dismasted and noticed an ingress of water approximately 600 miles southwest of Perth, Western Australia was rescued on Tuesday, October 23, 2018. The rescue took place about 670 miles from Perth (the sailboat having drifted since October 20) and began shortly after the first light of day. The area had previously been overflown by the Australian P-8A search and rescue aircraft.
Despite the heavy swell, the Frenchman was recovered on board the Japanese bulk carrier Shiosai at 0053 UTC on Monday 22 October 2018. The solo sailor scuttled his boat - Laaland - and the beacons stopped transmitting at 0600 UTC on 23 October.
Francis Tolan, skipper of S/V Alizes II, a Beneteau Ocean 43 participating in the Long Route, was finally thanked by the Australian rescue centre. The latter, who had come to assist the rescuers, did not finally need to intervene and was able to resume his navigation.
The cargo ship carrying the French solo sailor is bound for Las Palmas, Argentina, and will dock there on 22 November.
Loïc Lepage waits in the cockpit of his boat for the Japanese cago Shiosai
Severe storm for Susie Goodall
British sailor Susie Goodall - the only woman in the event - has been facing difficult conditions for several days. On October 22, she informed Race HQ of the South Sea Storm some 250 miles south of Cape Leeuwin, Australia, which she was meeting. A storm of the same violence as the one that capsized and dismasted Gregor McGuckin and Abhilash Tomy two weeks ago.
"The storm really hit between 9:00 p. m. and 9:00 a. m. I had 70 knots of wind and 13-metre waves. They were mean... almost vertical with waves breaking. I don't know how we (with the boat) got through it. My windvane gear broke and I had to steer for 7 hours. The boat went to bed several times and I was afraid of capsizing at any moment. Everything was wet on deck and in the cabin, the sleeping mattresses and the sleeping bag. I really lost weight during the storm because I couldn't leave the bar to eat and now I'm cold all the time and I can't warm up."
Susie Goodall
These hands have suffered particularly, as she explains "They're not very beautiful to see. Covered with cracks and cuts and now covered with bandages to avoid salt."
The British navigator decided to turn back westward to bypass it and find herself in a safer area. She will be able to boast of having passed Cape Leeuwin 3 times in a single round of the monde?!
The storm has now passed, but the sea is still too bad to repair his windvane gear "It doesn't work, but not very well. Only in crosswind, so I have to steer with little canvas for now."
She will join Hobart - 1,000 miles away - around 1 er november 2018.
