This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8458382.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Sailors in dramatic Java rescue | Sailors in dramatic Java rescue |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A crew of 16 sailors that included Britons has been rescued from a sinking yacht after it struck rocks in the Clipper Round the World Race. | |
The crew abandoned the Cork Clipper on life rafts after the accident in Indonesian waters, and was later rescued by two other competing yachts. | The crew abandoned the Cork Clipper on life rafts after the accident in Indonesian waters, and was later rescued by two other competing yachts. |
The 68ft (20.72m) yacht ran into trouble in high winds and rough seas in the early hours of Thursday local time. | The 68ft (20.72m) yacht ran into trouble in high winds and rough seas in the early hours of Thursday local time. |
All of the sailors are now safe and their families have been informed. | All of the sailors are now safe and their families have been informed. |
The Cork Clipper was holed by a rock near the small Indonesian island of Gosong Mampango, about 200 miles north-east of Java. | The Cork Clipper was holed by a rock near the small Indonesian island of Gosong Mampango, about 200 miles north-east of Java. |
The crew radioed nearby yachts California Clipper and Team Finland before abandoning their boat on life rafts and paddling to nearby rocks. | The crew radioed nearby yachts California Clipper and Team Finland before abandoning their boat on life rafts and paddling to nearby rocks. |
The crew had a lucky escape. You don't abandon ship unless you have to Falmouth Coastguard | |
The sailors were forced to paddle out on the stormy seas again to reach rescue boats, which had been about four nautical miles away and arrived near daybreak. | The sailors were forced to paddle out on the stormy seas again to reach rescue boats, which had been about four nautical miles away and arrived near daybreak. |
Irishman Sean Coote, 47, who lives in Sunbury on Thames, said: "Our life raft was picked up approximately half an hour after leaving the island by the California crew who were immediately on hand with biscuits and hot tea. | |
"We are grateful to have escaped with no major injuries and proud to have rallied together as team and survived a harrowing ordeal and test of our resilience." | |
International Rescue Services had been alerted by Falmouth Coastguard, who co-ordinated the operation to rescue the crew after being contacted by Team Finland. | International Rescue Services had been alerted by Falmouth Coastguard, who co-ordinated the operation to rescue the crew after being contacted by Team Finland. |
Multinational crew | |
A spokeswoman for Falmouth Coastguard said: "The crew had a lucky escape. You don't abandon ship unless you have to." | A spokeswoman for Falmouth Coastguard said: "The crew had a lucky escape. You don't abandon ship unless you have to." |
The Cork Clipper crew included five Irish, one Australian and one Chinese sailor and was the Irish entry in the race, skippered by Richie Fearon, 29, from Derry. | The Cork Clipper crew included five Irish, one Australian and one Chinese sailor and was the Irish entry in the race, skippered by Richie Fearon, 29, from Derry. |
The boat is based in Gosport, Hampshire. | The boat is based in Gosport, Hampshire. |
The 10-strong clipper fleet began the race on 13 September last year from the Humber estuary. Its current leg is from Geraldton in Western Australia to Singapore. | The 10-strong clipper fleet began the race on 13 September last year from the Humber estuary. Its current leg is from Geraldton in Western Australia to Singapore. |
Famed sailor Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, chairman of race organisers Clipper Ventures, said: "Clearly our priority has been the safety of the crew and we have confirmation that all on board have evacuated and are now safe. | Famed sailor Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, chairman of race organisers Clipper Ventures, said: "Clearly our priority has been the safety of the crew and we have confirmation that all on board have evacuated and are now safe. |
"Their welfare is our prime concern at this time." | "Their welfare is our prime concern at this time." |
A Clipper spokeswoman said the rest of the crew were Alan Moss, 40, from Fareham, Hampshire; Gavin Kelly, 35, from Abbeyfeale, Limerick, Irish Republic; Keith Hale, 50, from West Yorkshire; Kevin Austen, 26, from Dublin; Marco Giana, 37, who lives in Cork and is Australian; Michael Lewis, 31, who lives in Derby and is Irish; Noreen Osborne, 32, from Belfast; and Orla Mellett, 30, who lives in London and is also Irish. | |
The remainder of the crew are Sarah Bell, 44, from North Yorkshire; Sarah Boyle, 28, from Cork, Irish Republic; David Paton, 56, from Preston, Lancashire; Tie Wa Li, 28, from Ruislip, west London who is Chinese; Jacqui Browne, 49, from Co Kerry, Irish Republic; and Tania Dolinschek, 46, from Western Australia. |