Die Pelican war von uns zum Zeitpunkt des Notrufs etwa 250 Meilen entfernt. Wir waren bereit umzudrehen, hätten aber gegen Wind und See über zwei Tage zum Havaristen gebraucht. Da das Rigg beschädigt war und der Propeller nicht einsatzbereit, wurde das Schiff aufgegeben und die Crew von einem Frachter geborgen. Die aufgegebene Yacht treibt jetzt im Atlantik. Hier die drei Originalmeldungen.
01/12/2009 – 1650UTC
Mayday Relay Pelican (159) Yacht Pelican (159) in position 18 01.382N 030 27.477W at 1650UTC has called a Mayday. Pelican suffered a broken inner forestay, and other rigging damage earlier today, and has a foul propeller. The crew are concerned about the stability of the rig, and being able to make a safe landfall. The yacht is in direct communication with Falmouth Coastguard, who are alerting all shipping in the area. Any ARC yacht able to offer assistance is requested to contact Falmouth Coastguard who are co-ordinating the incident, keeping ARC Rally Control informed. ENDS 01/12/2009 – 1300UTC 159 Pelican – diverting to Cape Verdes Yacht has damaged inner forestay and are also unable to use engine. Are now heading towards Cape Verdes.
Position at 1330UTC on 011209 was 18.07.7N 030.25.5W
Yacht is in contact with MRCC.
ENDS
02/12/2009 – 0830UTC 159 Pelican – Crew evacuated from yacht Pelican The five crew members of 159 Pelican were evacuated last last night following a rig failure, approximately 325 nautical miles west of the Cape Verde Islands. The MV Crimson Mars diverted to assist the yacht at the request of MRCC Falmouth, after Pelican’s skipper called a MayDay yesterday afternoon as the yacht was also unable to motor and the rig was considered to be in a dangerous condition following several failures. MRCC Falmouth and MRCC Ponta Delgada (Azores) were involved in co-ordinating the evacuation of the yacht with the merchant ship. All crew were safely aboard by 0200 hours. The MV Crimson Mars is now en route to Gibraltar and the Pelican has been abandoned; the skipper having taken the decision not to scuttle the yacht.
ENDS