A dismasted solo sailor turned down assistance from a freighter in the Atlantic because the cargo ship was going the wrong way! Instead, intrepid yachtsman Matt Gill is struggling to bring Orinoco Flo, a 40ft catamaran to Falmouth from the US under one engine and with only one rudder. During the dismasting a rudder was put out of action and one engine damaged.
The freighter dropped food to the skipper of the catamaran worth £75,500 (US $117,000). The alarm went up when the owner of the cat posted the yacht as being three weeks overdue with Falmouth Coastguard.
The vessel is presently not contactable as she is out of cell phone and email range. She does not have a SAT phone aboard and the EPIRB has not gone off. Her current position is unknown, but four days ago the rendez-vous with the tanker was at position Lat: 46 58 N Long: 018 37 W, about two thirds of the way across.
Courtesy of www.yachtingmonthly.com
I bet he makes it. I will be thinking and praying he does until I hear different. He sounds like a hard headed bastard (just like me). Good Luck sailor God be with you and watch over you.
I’m sure I wouldn’t simply abandon my boat unless it was absolutely necessary. This guy obviously knows the risk, as do most of us who sail. I’d rather read a story like this, than another story about a yacht who triggers the EPIRB for a non life-threatening situation! Kudos to the Freighter too for helping!