Sailor Evacuated From Newport Bermuda Race
A sailor has been evacuated from a boat racing in the Newport Bermuda Race due to his medical condition.
At approximately 4am Bermuda time today [June 18], Nathan C. Owen [from Norwell, Massachusetts], who was reported to be suffering from complications from dehydration, was transferred from his 46-foot sloop ‘Seabiscuit’ to a cruise ship, ‘Enchantment of the Seas’.
The rescue occurred 200 miles northwest of Bermuda in rough seas. ‘Enchantment of the Seas’ was en route from Bermuda to Boston, Massachusetts, when officials at Bermuda’s Rescue Coordination Center contacted the captain and requested that the ship be diverted to evacuate and treat Mr. Owen.
The transfer followed several hours of efforts by the race’s organizers and its medical advisor, by the Rescue Coordination Center, and by several competitors in the race to provide Mr Owen with medical treatment and then to evacuate him from ‘Seabiscuit’.
Other vessels taking part in the rescue effort were the racing yacht ‘Flying Lady’ and the Bermuda Sloop Foundation sail-training vessel ‘Spirit of Bermuda’ racing in the Spirit of Tradition Division.
As instructed by Bermuda Rescue Coordination Center at 11:30pm on Sunday, the Spirit was diverted and turned back to render assistance, but were some 75 miles ahead of Seabiscuit.
The 46′ racing yacht Flying Lady was closer and made a rendezvous with Seabiscuit and stood by for assistance and for the evacuation. The evacuation was accomplished before Spirit reached Seabiscuit’s position and Spirit was released to continue to Bermuda.
Update 6.41pm: A more thorough write-up about the evacuation is here.
Good team work…hope all is well with the gentleman,,,and good luck to you all…
I don’t understand. Was “Sea Biscuit” in the race? I guess not if it was traveling from Bermuda to Boston.
the cruise ship was on its way from bermuda to boston, sea biscuit was in the race.
Yacht is in the race while enchantment en route to boston after weekend in dockyard.