Share this on:

Mixx Digg Facebook del.icio.us reddit StumbleUpon MySpace

Caffari rescued after losing mast

Story Highlights
British yachtswoman Dee Caffari rescued by the Royal Navy after losing mast
Her Open 60 vessel Aviva was being towed back to Spain after a 30-hour wait
Caffari was taking part in Transat EcoverB2B race between Brazil and France
Next Article in World Sport »

LONDON, England -- British yachtswoman Dee Caffari has been rescued by the Royal Navy after her Open 60 vessel Aviva was dismasted off the coast of Spain before dawn on Thursday morning.

Dee Caffari was rescued after her yacht Aviva lost its mast off the coast of Spain.

The boat fell off a large wave and the mast toppled over the port side in 45-50 knots of headwinds and a heavy sea, some 160 north-west of La Coruna.

Caffari, the first woman to sail single-handed, non-stop around the world against prevailing winds and currents, was taking part in the Transat EcoverB2B race between Brazil and Brittany.

HMS Northumberland was called in to help and tow her back to Spain.

Caffari, who suffered minor injuries, had to hand steer -- due to rudder damage caused by the broken mast -- for the entire 20 to 24 hours back to port.

She said in her online journal on Thursday: "It has been 30 hours since Aviva was dismasted and I am still bobbing around in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

"The good news is that the weather has improved. The sky has cleared the rain has stopped and the wind has abated. The swell is still at large and the relentless rolling onboard is uncomfortable to say the least.

"As the daylight was being lost yesterday afternoon, panic set in. I couldn't stay out here alone at night. I hadn't slept for two days. I was scared and felt vulnerable and was worried of being mowed down by a ship as I did not show up too well without a mast and sails.

"Then just as I was about to crack I heard the news that a guardian angel was coming to keep watch over me. My angel was in the form of the British Warship Northumberland and the crew with the Commanding Officer Martin Simpson.

"They arrived at midnight and spent all night keeping watch on Aviva and me so I could sleep. It was heavenly. This morning with breakfast delivered they agreed to stay on station until the Spanish tow arrived from La Coruna.

"All being well I should be under tow this afternoon and making way to Spain with hopes of stepping onto dry land tomorrow." E-mail to a friend