about safety before, of course, but suddenly it got real.
It was so sad. They [the Polish couple] had only 400
miles to go.
“We reviewed all our rules, such as not leaving the
cockpit when alone, wearing a lifejacket and lifeline, all
these things the ARC also reinforces.”
They also reflected on how quickly scores of people on
land and at sea had taken some form of action to help,
from spreading the word on radio nets and social
networks, to the rescue centre’s co-ordination of the
search area, and the diversion of a ship to rescue the
Polish woman. “It was nice to observe that the system
really works when something goes wrong. That feels
good,” Kim commented.
Resupplying at sea
A group as large as the ARC and ARC+, a total of 254 yachts
this year, always has its share of urgent situations, and
then the support of a large fleet can be invaluable. Four
days out from the Cape Verdes, a crewmember on the Tall
Ships Adventure Trust’s 72ft Challenger 2 was diagnosed
with cellulitis.
“The medical advice we got both from the UK
Coastguard and medical support provided by Queen
Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth and the CCMM French
Medical organisation supporting the MRCC Fort-de-
France was very clear; ‘Immediate evacuation from the
vessel,’” reported skipper Ricky Chalmers.
As a Category 0 coded commercial vessel, Challenger 2
carries an extensive medical kit and there was a doctor in
the crew, Iona Taylor, who was able to start the patient on
intravenous antibiotics. But it was going to take five days
to reach helicopter range of Martinique, and there were
enough supplies for only two days.
ARC rally control emailed all yachts. “We were flooded
with offers of help,” Chalmers reported. Talulah Ruby, a
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 49 skippered by British owner
Rebecca Tilley, was the nearest vessel with cannulas and
IV saline solution.
At an arranged rendezvous, the yachts overlapped 6m
apart. Challenger 2 positioned crew on the foredeck to
throw a heaving line attached to a yellow grab box with
an AIS locator beacon. The box was transferred over,
filled with supplies by Talulah Ruby, and passed back.
Challenger 2 continued onwards.
By the time they reached helicopter range, 100 miles
from Martinique, the ill crewman had improved
sufficiently to sail onwards to St Lucia.
“There has been a lot of stress on board and a lot of
support given to us by the ARC rally control team, the Tall
Ships, First Class Sailing, the French Coastguard and
medical support team, and not least by our shop in the
sea, Talulah Ruby,” Chalmers blogged.
So what should you expect from a tradewinds
transatlantic crossing in November? Any of the above, or
none. There is no typical year; I’ve found the stories differ
every single season. You could be going for a dip in calm
water 8,000m above the seabed, or grappling with canvas
before a 50-knot squall. It could be really tough, or ‘very
pleasant’ – maybe both. That’s the challenge.Above: Tall Ships
Adventure Trust
yacht Challenger 2
arrives in Rodney
Bay Marina,
St Lucia
Right: Marie
and Kim Graven
Nielsen
Above: the crew
of Challenger 2
celebrate the end
of an adventure
and a challengeARC TRANSATLANTIC RALLY
44 February 2018