GOLDEN GLOBE RACE SAILORS RESCUED
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24 Sep 2018
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Abhilash Tomy lying injured in his bunk. Credit: Photo Nick Jaffe/PPL/GGR
Injured Golden Globe Race solo sailor Abhilash Tomy has been rescued by a French fisheries patrol vessel on the fourth day of a harrowing ordeal adrift in the Southern Ocean following a vicious storm.
Osiris reached Abhilash’s dismasted yacht Thuriya approximately 1,900m SW of Perth Western Australia after it was hit by a 70 knot storm and 15m seas and rolled through 360°, injuring the Indian Navy commander’s back and leaving him confined to his bunk.
The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Canberra, which coordinated the rescue, reported: “Tomy is concious, talking and onboard the Orisis. Australian and Indian long range P8 Orion reconnaissance aircraft are circling overhead.”
39-year-old Abhilash, who was in third place with his ketch rigged yacht before the storm hit, was able to communicate with race organisers using a texting unit, after his satellite phone was broken.
In addition, fellow GGR skipper Gregor Mcguckin, whose yacht Hanley Energy Endurance was also rolled and dismasted in the same storm, has been picked up safely from his yacht.
The 32-year old Irishman had hand-steered his yacht for four days under jury rig. He had not declared an emergency but had asked for a controlled evacuation given the remote location and condition of his yacht.
Osiris is now proceeding to Ile de Amsterdam where the sailors will receive medical attention.