The value of carrying an Epirb (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) was proved yet again at the weekend when a single-handed sailor was rescued in the Atlantic after Falmouth Coastguard received a distress alert from his Epirb.
The beacon, registered to a 22-year-old sailor from the South Devon area, was aboard a ten-metre yacht sailing from Porte Meo in Portugal to the Canary Islands. The yacht had sustained storm damage in extreme weather conditions off Casablanca.
Falmouth Coastguard contacted their international colleagues in Morocco, Portugal and Spain for assistance. Satellite radio broadcasts were made to shipping, and three commercial vessels joined the search for the yacht and single-handed sailor.
An Orion aircraft from the Portugese Navy located the yacht 74 miles west north west of Casablanca with the sailor still on board.
The aircraft directed a commercial vessel, MV Wappen Von Bayern, to the position and they were able to recover the man aboard the ship.
He was being looked after by the crew, but said to be none the worse for his ordeal. The ship will drop him off in Gibraltar.
Mark Thomas, watch manager, Falmouth Coastguard said: “We are grateful to all involved in this incident for the successful rescue of this sailor.
“Once again this is another incident where the use of an Epirb to call for help proves to be immensely valuable. We would advise all sailors to have one.”
