After a sailor on board the Swan 53 "Triana" was seriously injured during the ongoing Ocean Globe Race, the initial plan was to head for the nearest harbour to bring the crew member to safety. However, weak winds and a failed engine led French skipper Jean d'Arthuys to the conclusion that an immediate medical evacuation was the only safe option.
Early yesterday morning, he therefore contacted the organisers of the Ocean Globe Race. D'Arthuys asked for urgent support when the condition of his crew member Stéphane Raguenes worsened overnight due to the injuries he had sustained the previous day: "Hello Don(McIntyre, race organiser and founder of the Globe Yacht Club)The situation is not good: he is bleeding and suffering, and the wind is not good for getting to Madeira quickly. Can you please organise an evacuation by helicopter or military ship today. Let me know as soon as possible. Thank you."
Almost two-hour flight to the hospital
The subsequent rescue operation was carried out by the Portuguese Rescue Coordination Centre with the support of the Portuguese military and the French Griz Nez Rescue Coordination Centre. "Triana" was about 225 miles from Madeira Island at the time. A fixed-wing aircraft was dispatched and arrived before the helicopter at around 15:15 local time.
With waves around 2.5 metres high and winds of up to 20 knots, the crew of the "Triana" lowered one of its two Solas life rafts into the water. Three crew members helped the casualty into the life raft. All four were attached to the stern of the "Triana" with a 12-metre line. The helicopter arrived shortly afterwards, and at 4.45 p.m. Stéphane was successfully winched out of the life raft and into the helicopter. The injured man spent almost two hours in the air before travelling to Funchal Airport in Madeira. He was taken to hospital, where he is now being treated and is recovering well.
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How the accident occurred during the Ocean Globe Race
Skipper d'Arthuys said after the successful rescue operation: "I would like to thank Don, the OGR organisation and all the international rescue teams, French and Portuguese, for the incredible speed and professionalism of the helicopter and the aircraft. Raguenes is safe, the entire crew is happy and we are now on our way back to Cape Town."
Raguenes had slipped on deck in heavy weather and sustained a severe laceration to the back of his leg behind the knee. He was taken below deck so that first aid could be administered immediately and the blood flow stopped. He was sedated and given painkillers. He was conscious, talking and being reassured by his crew members.
After weighing up the various options, skipper Jean d'Arthuys initially decided to take the quickest route to Las Palmas/Gran Canaria. Raguenes was to be taken to hospital there today, Tuesday, weather permitting. However, as the injured man's condition worsened, the decision was made to use a helicopter.
With Jörg Riechers on board: "Triana" continues to be successful
Despite the difficult start to the race, "Triana" is still leading the Adventure Class and is in seventh place overall and fifth place in the IRC ranking in the midfield of the fleet. The yacht, skippered by French media entrepreneur and wine producer Jean d'Arthuys, had to interrupt the race for four hours on the third night to repair a broken steering cable. The repairs were successfully completed with a Dyneema rope, allowing her to continue sailing unhindered.
The Swan 53, one of the smaller yachts in the race, sails with a crew of just eight and is considered by many to be the one to watch. Sébastien Audigane, the first helmsman, is a well-known face on the professional French sailing scene. He has already circumnavigated Cape Horn six times and set two Jules Verne world records. Also on board is the German offshore sailor Jörg Riechers. He sailed the Barcelona World Race 2014/15 together with Audigane and had long aspired to take part in the Vendeé Globe. Most recently, he was mainly active in the Figaro class.
The Ocean Globe Race started on Sunday, 10 September 2023, in Southampton, UK, on a 27,000-mile sprint across the world's oceans. The fleet is divided into three classes and comprises a total of 14 participating yachts. Stopovers include Cape Town in South Africa, Auckland in New Zealand and Punta del Este in Uruguay before the race ends back in the UK in April 2024. In a nod to the first team regatta around the globe 50 years ago, the Whitbread Round the World Race 1973-74, the Ocean Globe Race will take place in retro mode. The yachts are also largely sailed by amateurs without budgets in the millions or modern technology.
