Rescued Yachtsman Arrives In France
The survivor of a dramatic rescue at sea during an ill-fated Atlantic yacht rally to Bermuda is expected to arrive in France today [Nov. 22].
American Rob Anderson, sailing with wife Jan [the couple are pictured here], was rescued by the tanker “High Jupiter” on November 11 after their cruising sailboat “Triple Stars” ran into stormy seas.
His wife was swept overboard approximately 285 miles northwest of Bermuda by a 30-foot wave.
“We were hit by a 30 foot wave,” Mr.Anderson told the US Coast Guard after he abandoned his 38-foot yacht. “My wife went through the bimini top and I saw her floundering in the water, there were 25 foot seas and I threw her a life ring which she grabbed onto, but when I brought the boat around, I saw her go under and not resurface.”
US Coast Guard personnel diverted the 600-foot “High Jupiter” to the area to rescue Mr. Anderson.
Several Coast Guard rescue aircraft from Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina were dispatched to search for Mrs. Anderson but her body was never recovered.
Crew aboard the Hong Kong-flagged tanker have been caring for Mr. Anderson since the rescue and the ship will be met by US State Department personnel when it arrives in France.
The North American Rally To The Caribbean [NARC] regatta — sailing from Rhode Island to Bermuda and then on to St. Martin — was disrupted by gale-force winds and stormy seas produced by a week-long low-pressure front which developed into Tropical Storm Sean.
Aside from “Triple Stars”, another vessel in the NARC fleet was abandoned on the high seas, its crew rescued by the Bermuda freighter “Oleander” while a third yacht participating in the regatta had to be towed into St. George’s harbour.
The regatta — which got underway on October 30 — was open to veteran offshore sailors and professionally crewed boats.
very sad but people know the risk involved when motoring or sailing on the seas.
La Roux