Sunday, December 9, 2007

Father and son saved in Atlantic

A father and son from the Isles of Scilly were rescued after their yacht got into trouble in rough seas while crossing the Atlantic.

Peter Kyne, 48, called for help after the yacht Spam lost its mast and started taking in water about 750m (1,207km) from the Caribbean.

The yacht was on the same route as the ARC race, and a nearby boat responded to a mayday call.

Mr Kyne, his son Alan, 17, and another man, 33, were all helped to safety.

The yacht lost its mast and started taking in water after developing holes in strong winds.

'Good communications'

Mr Kyne used a satellite phone to call for help from the 9.3m (30.5ft) long yacht, which was not taking part in the ARC race.

A spokesman for Falmouth Coastguard said: "The yacht was well-equipped with good communications and all the necessary life saving apparatus.

"The men were instructed to stay with the yacht as long as it stayed afloat, but ready to evacuate to a life raft if required."

Coastguards contacted ARC race control who were able to broadcast to all their race yachts as well as making a distress relay broadcast into the area.

Another yacht that was accompanying the race responded to the distress calls and picked them up.

The crew were being taken to St Lucia and were described as being "safe and well". The yacht Spam is later believed to have sunk.

The ARC yacht race goes from Las Palmas De Gran Canaria to finish at Rodney Bay St Lucia in the Caribbean.

1 comments:

Mary South said...

I'm sorry but, really, naming your boat SPAM? There are two meanings for that word, neither one good. :-)

 

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