Successful rescue in Ocean Globe Race

(September 19, 2023) – An injured crew member from the 53-foot French Yacht Triana, racing around the world in the 2023-24 McIntyre Ocean Globe Race, was successfully rescued yesterday after a dramatic long-range helicopter mission. The alarm was raised early that day when the sailor’s condition deteriorated overnight from injuries sustained the day before.

The yacht is one of 14 entrants that are currently competing in the 2023-24 around the world race and was located southwest of Portugal.

At 07:20 UTC yesterday, the captain of Triana (66) FR, Jean d’Arthuys, contacted Ocean Globe Race control to request an urgent medivac from the vessel. This followed an incident onboard the day at 1300 UTC before when crew member Stéphane Raguenes slipped on deck in heavy weather causing a severe laceration on the back of his leg behind the knee.

Raguenes was taken below for immediate first aid to stop the blood flow. He was sedated and given morphine under supervision by MSOS 24hr Telemedicine organization. He was conscious, talking, and made comfortable by his crew mates.

The captain of the yacht had planned to make for the nearest port, but light winds and a failed engine combined to signal an immediate medical evacuation was the only safe option.

The rescue was carried out by the Portuguese Rescue Coordination Center with support from the Portuguese military and French Griz Nez Rescue Coordination Center. Triana was approximately 225 miles from the island of Madeira. A fixed-wing aircraft was dispatched, arriving overhead at approximately 15:15 UTC, ahead of the helicopter.

The Triana crew launched one of their two eight-man SOLAS life rafts and the casualty was assisted into the raft by crew Xavier Haize, Titouan Dourmap, and Max de Montgolfier. All four were then secured to the stern of Triana by a 12-meter line.

Sea state at that time was 2.5 meter sea swell and 17-20 knot winds. Shortly after the helicopter arrived, and at 16:45 UTC Raguenes was successfully winched out of the liferaft into the helicopter to continue the long flight back to the island of Madeira and awaiting medical personnel.

At 1830 UTC, Portugal MRCC advised that the helicopter with Raguenes onboard had landed safely at Funchal Airport on the island of Madeira and he was being transported to Hospital. He is being treated for his injuries and recovering well.

“I thank Don, the OGR organization, and all the rescue international teams – French and Portuguese – for the incredible speed and professionalism of the helicopter and aircraft heli treuillage,” said d’Arthuys. “Raguenes is safe, all the crew is happy and we are now back on track sailing to Cape Town.”

The first boats are expected to finish the first leg by October 9-21, 2023.

Event information – Race rules – Entry list – Tracker

2023-24 Ocean Globe Race:
FIRST LEG: Start 10 September 2023. 7670 miles. First boats finish 9-21 October 2023.
SECOND LEG: Start 5 November 2023. 7250 miles. First boats finish 14-23 December 2023.
THIRD LEG: Start 14 January 2024. 4980 miles. First boats finish 9-18 February 2024.
FOURTH LEG: Start 5 March. 6550 miles. Finish 1-10 April 2024.

The 2023-24 Ocean Globe Race (OGR) is a fully crewed, retro race, in the spirit of the 1973 Whitbread Round the World Race, marking the 50th Anniversary of the original event. Starting in Southampton (UK) on September 10, the OGR is a 27,000-mile sprint around the Globe, divided into four legs that passes south of the three great Capes. The fleet is divided in three classes with stop-overs in Cape Town, South Africa; Auckland, New Zealand; and Punta del Este, Uruguay before returning to Southhampton in April 2024.

Source: OGR