Rescued fishermen find their 'mystery yacht'

by Tara Russell, This is Hampshire/Sail-World on 27 Oct 2009 Stories abound of yachts who by their own ineptitude or the force of weather need rescuing, but when the lives of three British fishermen in the Solent were saved by a mystery sailing boat that arrived like a guardian angel in the night and departed again, all the shocked fishermen were left with was the memory of the name of the boat - Mange Tout.

An appeal to the local newspaper Daily Echo, who published the story, has eventually led to the owner of Mange Tout, experienced sailor Rob Gower, 44-year-old IT consultant and his friend Danny Long, a 22-year-old student, who were returning from a journey to France when they saw a red flare nearby.

Paul Mortimer, 38, and his brothers-in-law Paul and Pete Madgwick, were left neck-deep in the frigid water for more than an hour after their 14ft dinghy capsized, and were on their last flare when it was sighted by the crew of Mange Tout.

The trio had gone out for the first time on a fishing expedition and had anchored halfway between the mainland and the Isle of Wight. But their boat was upturned by an undercurrent as they tried to lift their anchor , briefly trapping Paul Mortimer underneath.

The two rescuers then said it was a twist of fate that led them to save the three fishing enthusiasts. Had they not run short of fuel and been forced to return to Cherbourg, they would not have been in the 'right place at the right time' to effect the rescue.

In the drama, the three anglers failed to get the names of the men they now call their heroes, and later made the plea through the Echo to find the men they now know to be Rob and Danny.

Rob, who has sailed from Australia to England before, said, “When the red flare went up close to us, we knew it was our responsibility to act. We were the only boat on the water at that time.”

The saviours took the trio to safety in Yarmouth where they could be treated, then sailed on.

Rob said: “We were so delighted to be at the right place at the right time. I have been sailing since I was 12 but I have never had to rescue anyone before. I think they were very lucky but they were astonishingly well equipped and very sensible so it could have been worse.”

Father of two Paul Mortimer, said: “They were heroes. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be here.”