Long-distance sailing: Susanne Huber-Curphey: unhappily stranded, but rescued

The ocean sailing network Trans-Ocean and the Golden Globe Race organisers from McIntyre Adventures have both reported that the Ingolstadt-based circumnavigator Susanne Huber-Curphey ran aground in her aluminium yacht "Nehaj" on the west coast of La Réunion in the Indian Ocean at the weekend in a very unfortunate manner. According to reports from friends and observers, the skipper had arrived there on Sunday and thought that she would not be allowed to enter the harbour. Accordingly, she anchored outside the harbour in calm weather. There she was apparently surprised by heavy swell on Sunday night (local time).

After picking up the anchor, a line had apparently become entangled in the propeller. As a result, the boat was driven onto the beach. The solo sailor had no choice but to make a mayday call. According to reports, she escaped with minor injuries and is in good health under the circumstances.

Initially, it looked as though it would be very difficult to salvage the boat, but it has since been brought back into the water with the help of a 220-tonne crane and is in port for more detailed damage analysis and repairs. The skipper is quoted by McIntyre Adventures, who also published the pictures, as saying: "I'm only slightly battered." Details of the accident and the next steps are to follow. In February of this year, 33 years after Wilfried Erdmann's success, the single-handed sailor became only the second female skipper under the German flag to sail around the world single-handed and without stopping.