Two days ago, we heard that one of the yachts taking part in the Governor's Cup (Cape to St Helena) got demasted somewhere 300 miles from St Helena. At the time we were quite far from the spot.
Yesterday afternoon, we have learned that the yacht "Running with Scissors" is still drifting without assistance, and any yacht in the vicinity should help. We were only 30 miles away and after altering our course, we were 4 hours from the distressed vessel.
Around midnight, we managed to make contact on VHF channel 16 with Lionel (an injured single handed sailor)and he has given us his amended position (19deg 03'S, 001deg41'W). Greg discussed with Lionel our rescue strategy. We spotted "Running with Scissors" on our radar 7 miles away and saw his light 1 mile away. After circling several times around him, and assisted by near full moon, Ben started to throw our tow rope at the boat and Greg tried to steer "La Boheme" in reverse to close proximity but keeping safe distance from the distressed vessel. The demasted yacht was moving violently on the choppy seas, we were at times 2m either above him or below him. Tension rose as the rope fell into water. Finally, on the fourth attempt we made it. Lionel attached tow and at around 00.45 hours we began towing him to safety. At the time of this log we still have 230 miles to go.
Anna, Greg, Ben
La Boheme