Once again, participants in the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) have triggered a rescue operation. Peter and Zara Davis from Plymouth asked for help after the rudder of their Hunter Legend 450 "F2" broke in the middle of the Atlantic.
But in contrast to the death a few days ago, the drama seems to have ended far more lightly. The organiser, the World Cruising Club, organised a large-scale relief operation after the English called the rescue centre in Falmouth.
From there, four ARC yachts were located nearby and sent to the distressed vessel. They tried to take the "F2" in tow, but their efforts failed due to the high swell. They succeeded in fitting an emergency rudder. However, the prospect of crossing to the next harbour in Cape Verde, 300 miles away, without a self-steering system was just as unappealing as taking on the even longer journey to the destination harbour in St. Lucia.
The situation changed when the 65 metre long vintage boat "Tenacious", also an ARC participant, appeared. Its crew managed to build a completely new rudder, which also enabled the autopilot to work again.
In the meantime, the "F2" is on course for St Lucia, accompanied by the ARC yacht "Muskrat". The "Tenacious" has turned off again and set course for the "Toutazimut" of the exhausted David Hitchcock. He has been travelling single-handed since losing his brother a few days ago.
