WATATSUMI

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Course/Position

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Bulk carrier rescued distressed Global Solo Challenge participant

On Feb 14, 2024 at 02:50 a.m. UTC the Dutch yacht 'Phoenix', participating in the Global Solo Challenge, suffered severe water ingress, and the Canadian skipper William MacBrien activated his EPIRB over 1300 nautical miles west of Cape Horn, over 3000 miles from New Zealand. The signal via satellite was relayed to the Dutch Coast Guard, which immediately contacted the MRCC Punta Arenas. The 'Watatsumi', en route from San Lorenzo, was identified in the morning as being 300 miles away, and was notified of the situation, sailing almost exactly towards William’s position. The vessel altered course to be on the most direct route, but required approximately 30 hours at 10 knots boat speed. At 11:30 p.m. UTC, William said he was ok, that he had donned his Thermal Protection Suit and could wait 24 hours for the rescue. In the morning of Feb 15, the 'Watatsumi' was still 150 miles away. At around 6 p.m. UTC the MRCC Chile received a further distress signal, this time from a PLB, a personal EPIRB. The tracker update frequency on the boat was progressively increased. From 30’ to 15’ when the ship was 50 miles away and when the 'Watatsumi' was 10 miles away we triggered the unit to report position every 5’. At 10:42 p.m. UTC the ship was alongside the distressed sailing vessel, and the captain had established VHF contact with the skipper. At 11:36 p.m. UTC it was confirmed William had been rescued, and the 'Watasumi' resumed the voyage to Brisbane with an ETA as of March 3. William had spent 46 hours adrift in a semi-submerged yacht. Report with photos: https://globalsolochallenge.com/william-macbrien-watatsumi-en/