The Australian frigate HMAS 'Ballarat' will be within helicopter range of Ile de Amsterdam at first light on Sep 27 and will commence operations to pick up Gregor McGuckin, one of two Golden Globe Race skippers dismasted during a fierce storm mid-way across the South Indian Ocean on Sep 21. The second skipper, Indian Naval Commander Abhilash Tomy, who sustained serious back injuries when his yacht was rolled through 360° by 15m high seas, will remain in hospital until the arrival of the Indian Navy Frigate INS 'Satpura' on Sep 28, when he will be transferred by helicopter for ongoing medical treatment and return to India HMAS 'Ballarat' will proceed back to Fremantle with McGuckin who remains in good health, arriving there on 2nd or 3rd of October. Commander Abhilash Tomy reported: 'The sea was unbelievably rough. Me & my boat Thuriya were pitched against nature's might. I survived because of my sailing skills, the soldier bit in me and my Naval training cut-in for that fight - Very thankful to Indian Navy & all who rescued me' Capt. Dilip Donde, Abhilash Tomy’s manager, reported that the 'Thuriya'’s skipper could now stand and was eating and drinking, but required complete rest. He will be evacuated from Ile de Amsterdam on a stretcher. Capt. Donde also announced plans to salvage Tomy’s yacht 'Thuriya', left drifting in the Indian Ocean when he was recovered by the crew of the French Fisheries Patrol ship 'Osiris' on Sep 24. The plan was for the Indian Navy to tow the 'Thuriya' to St Paul’s Island, 40 miles north, and leave a crew to make repairs and sail her to land. Report with photo: https://www.sail-world.co... McGuckin’s yacht 'Hanley Energy Endurance' was also left drifting when the 'Osiris' crew picked him off the yacht. Neil O’Hagan, spokesman for Team Ireland said: “During the controlled evacuation of Hanley Energy Endurance, McGuckin was instructed to leave the vessel afloat. The French fisheries patrol vessel Osiris instructed McGuckin that scuttling the vessel would be in breach of international maritime regulations. Hence, McGuckin removed all debris from the deck that could become separated, secured all equipment on board, and ensured the AIS beacon was active. The power source to the AIS device is solar panels which should remain active without any outside assistance, reducing the risk to other vessels. Precautionary steps were also taken to ensure the relatively small amount of fuel onboard is secure.'
WORLD SHIPPING
26 September 2018 - 20:35
Skipper recovering, yacht to be taken in tow
The Australian frigate HMAS 'Ballarat' will be within helicopter range of Ile de Amsterdam at first light on Sep 27 and will commence operations to pick up Gregor McGuckin, one of two Golden Globe Race skippers dismasted during a fierce storm mid-way across the South Indian Ocean on Sep 21
WORLD SHIPPING
26 September 2018 - 20:35
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