World ARC yacht takes dismasted mini Transat in tow, 230 miles from St Helena A mini Transat yacht taking part in the Governor’s Cup has been taken in tow by the World ARC yacht La Boheme, an Amel Super Maramu, 230 miles out of St Helena. The 6.5m mini Transat, ‘Running with Scissors’ (RWS) is being sailed single-handed by former paratrooper Colonel Lionel Dyck.
Its mast folded just below the lower spreaders at 12h40 on Sunday, with Dyck calling the race organisers immediately, and again at 14h00 to report that he had successfully cut the rigging away, and the boat was not too damaged. The incident happened 300 miles from St Helena, with the nearest other Governors Cup yacht, Gaia, being another single hander, 109 miles behind RWS, and beset with its own problems. Gaia’s self steering gear has broken and the yacht is being hand-steered.
Knowing another 32 yachts were en-route to St Helena, the organisers contacted Eric Wells, race officer for the Heineken Cape to Bahia Race. Eighteen World ARC yachts are taking part in the HCBR, and as they tend to be larger than other entrants, are better suited to provide assistance.
La Boheme, owned by Australians Anna & Greg Haremza, diverted course, meeting up with RWS just after midnight on Monday, and taking the yacht in tow at 00h45. La Boheme is towing under sail, using a 120m line, and making 6 kn. To stabilise the movement of RWS, the towed vessel has deployed a drogue. Their ETA into St Helena is 07h00 UTC on 15-Jan-09.