In mid-November, the keel-up boat was discovered off the Atlantic coast of France by a fishing vessel. The Marine Rescue Coordination Centre (CROSS) was alerted and sent a salvage team to tow the badly damaged offshore rowing boat to the port of La Rochelle. It quickly emerged that it was the 28-foot rowing boat "Woobie", which had been missing since December 2022.
Unidentified floating objects (UFOs) pose a considerable danger to ships - especially sailing boats. These include containers that have gone overboard and damaged or abandoned boats. Time and again, such obstacles, which are often difficult to recognise, lead to serious collisions, sometimes with serious damage.
The story of "Woobie" began as part of the tough transatlantic rowing race, also known as the "World's Toughest Row". A team of four American veterans from the organisation "Fight Oar Die" set off from the Canary Islands towards Antigua to raise awareness for the mental health of former soldiers.
However, disaster struck on the 16th day of the 2500 nautical mile challenge. An enormous wave caused the boat to capsize. As the four-man crew were unable to right the ship, they had no choice but to climb into the life raft. After 22 hours of uncertainty, they were finally rescued by the bulk carrier "Hanze Göteborg" - while the boat and all its equipment were left to the elements.
The fact that the ghost ship has now been found intact after three years on the open sea is a source of great enthusiasm for the people behind the mission. The founders of the veterans' organisation hope that technical investigations of the wreck can help to improve safety in ocean rowing in the future. The "Woobie" is now being transported to its home port of Mobile, Alabama, on a cargo ship.
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