Sailboat Loses Mast, Runs Aground, Towed In
A sailing vessel was towed into Ordnance Island, St. Georges after becoming dismasted 115 nautical miles west-southwest of Bermuda and then running aground in the vicinity of Gurnet Rock, Castle Roads.
Yesterday, a Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre [BMOC] spokesperson said, “On Tuesday 23rd September at 8:40am the Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre is contacted by M/v Maersk Damietta who reports receipt of a Mayday call from sailing vessel ‘Condor’ which had become dismasted in position 115 nautical miles west-southwest of Bermuda.
“No injuries were reported to the two crew onboard with the master of the S/v Condor requesting a transfer of diesel oil to complete their journey under motor to Bermuda.
“Early morning on Wednesday 24th September, S/v Condor makes a broken radio call to Bermuda radio reporting the vessel is in need of additional fuel for final transit to St. George’s Harbour. Local fishing vessel relays communications to Bermuda radio and puts vessel to anchor off the southwest edge.
“Bermuda Radio organizes a local fuel drop and S/v Condor continues under own power towards St. George’s Harbour. At 2:45am today, S/v Condor issues a Mayday call on VHF CH16 reporting that vessel had run aground in the vicinity of Gurnet Rock, Castle Roads, and crew were in need of assistance.
“Bermuda Radio instructs crew to don life jackets, prepare life raft and monitor for any ingress of water. Police Marine Section were initially put on standby but stood down a while later once it was confirmed there was no ingress of water. Vessel was instructed to remain at anchor until daylight when a better assessment could be made.
“At 3:45am S/v Condor reports vessel is taking on water with pumps presently keeping up with intake of water but will need daylight tow into harbour. Bermuda Radio organizes tow of vessel into St. George’s Harbour.
“Approximately one hour later S/v Condor reports that generator has failed and pump is no longer working. Bermuda Radio contacts commercial tow operator for immediate assistance with local vessel ‘Line One’ underway a short while later with a battery and dewatering pump on board.
“At 7:25am ‘Line One’ reports they are alongside S/v Condor which is keeping up with water ingress with vessel taken under tow a few minutes later. At 8:55am S/v Condor safely towed to Ordnance Island, St. Georges, with crew of ‘Line One’ reporting some visual damage (hole) to bow of sailing vessel.”
Dis-master sounds like a Dis-aster.