Rescue delight for Shropshire sailor after Atlantic storm rolls and breaks yacht
A Shropshire sailor has been rescued after his yacht got into difficulties in the South Atlantic.
An international rescue operation got underway after Ian Herbert-Jones’ vessel was damaged in a storm.
Ian, from Oswestry, was competing in the single-handed Golden Globe Race when his boat repeatedly rolled in winds over 50 knots. His vessel, Puffin, a 35ft Tradewind cutter, is understood to have lost its mast and taken on water about 1,200 miles off Argentina.
The 52-year-old activated his on-board distress and tracking systems, EPIRB and YB3, and rescue service MRCC Argentina began coordinating attempts to reach the stricken sailor.
He was finally picked up on Tuesday night, at 7pm UK time. The yachtsman was said to be battered and bruised with back pain but delighted to be with the rescue crew.
The Golden Globe Race organisers said: “The master of the rescue ship moved straight into a recovery operation in the 25k wind and four meter sea as soon as they were on scene. Congratulations to all the personnel, ships, government agencies involved over the past 30 hours who have displayed complete professionalism, dedication and passion in continuing one of the strong traditions of the sea.”
Last night, his wife, Sally Herbert-Jones, speaking from their home in Melverley before the rescue said twins Thomas and Owen, daughter Emma and herself had gone through a tense time.
She said: “We had a long night on Monday but it is re-assuring that he has now messaged from the boat as we went quite a few hours not knowing anything.”
She said her husband left for the round the world race in September, but she had no communication with him on the boat in the last 218 days.
In the time before the successful rescue a recording was released of a satellite phone call with Mr Herbert-Jones, in which the skipper sounded tired but calm.
