Volvo Ocean Race- Full rescue video and audio from Team Alvimedica
by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com/nz on 2 Dec 2014
Team Vestas Wind stuck hard on the Cargados Carajos Shoals Volvo Ocean Race
http://www.volvooceanrace.com
Compilation of the raw video footage from Team Alvimedica as they acted as a rescue relay vessel after Team Vestas Wind hit a reef in the Cargados Carajos Shoals, Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean and decided to abandon their yacht before being picked up by a nearby Coastguard crew.
Below are the logs from Volvo Ocean Race Control, in reverse chronological order (ie earliest at the bottom, so read up):
UPDATE: 0300 UTC
Race Control has had it confirmed that the Team Vestas Wind crew has now been rescued and will stay on the Íle du Sud, where there is a house and some facilities. All the crew is safe and nobody is injured.
Team Vestas Wind is making plans with Volvo Ocean Race on how to transport the crew off the island as well as how to salvage the boat.
Team Alvimedica has now been released and will continue racing towards Abu Dhabi.
Knut Frostad, CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race, said: 'I’m extremely relieved that every one of the nine crew members now are safe and that nobody is injured. That has always been our first priority since we first learned about the grounding.
'At the same time, I’m deeply saddened that this happened to Team Vestas Wind and Chris Nicholson and his team. It’s devastating for the team, for the race and for everyone involved. I really feel for Chris and the team right now and we will continue to support them all the way going forward.'
UPDATE: 0045 UTC
Team Vestas Wind reported to Race Management that all nine crew have safely abandoned the boat. The crew awaits daylight on a dry section of the reef, where the life rafts are anchored.
At daylight, they intend to board a RIB from the local coastguard to be taken ashore on a nearby island or join Team Alvimedica. All nine are uninjured.
We will continue to give updates on the situation as we receive more information.
UPDATE: 2145 UTC
Team Vestas Wind reported that they had now deployed two life rafts as the stern of the boat was being beaten on rocks of the reef. The bow is pointing out to sea.
The team added that they were keeping the life rafts some 15 metres from the boat, which the crew could reach if necessary.
There were no plans to do this yet but the life rafts had been deployed now as they may not be able to do so later.
The current plan remains to abandon the boat at daylight with the assistance of the coastguard at Íle du Sud as well as Team Alvimedica.
We will update you further as more details become available.
UPDATE: 2030 UTC
Team Alvimedica has now arrived at the site, is in radio contact with Team Vestas Wind and standing by to assist Team Vestas Wind, waiting for daylight.
Race Control is in contact with Team Vestas Wind every hour. The situation is currently stable on board and the crew plans to remain on board until daylight.
There is also contact established with a coastguard station on Isle de Sud, approximately 1.5 km from the boat, which has a RIB available.
The plan is for this vessel to assist in abandoning the boat as soon as possible after daylight.
Both rudders have been reported broken by the Team Vestas Wind crew. The team has also reported water ingress in the stern compartment.
The Volvo Ocean 65 has watertight bulkheads in the bow and the stern. The remaining part of the boat is intact including the rig.
We will update as soon as we have further information.
ORIGINAL STATEMENT
At 1510 UTC, Saturday, November 29, Team Vestas Wind informed Race Control that their boat was grounded on the Cargados Carajos Shoals, Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean. Fortunately, no one has been injured.
We are in contact with the boat to establish the extent of the damage and ensure the crew is given the support needed to enable it to deal with the situation.
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Reunion Island is aware of the problem.
The crew has informed us that it is currently grounded on a reef but nobody is injured. Volvo Ocean Race and Team Vestas Wind’s top priority is to make sure the crew is safe.
The crew has informed Race organisers that it now plans to abandon the boat as soon as possible after daybreak.
Team Alvimedica and two other vessels are in contact with Team Vestas Wind to assist.
We will give you more information as it becomes available.
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