Canadian Sailor Rescued From Dismasted Sailboat off Oregon

A Canadian sailor was rescued on Friday after being dismasted and injured almost 500 miles off Tillamook, Oregon. The 74-year-old was singlehanding en route to British Columbia (B.C.) from Hilo, HI, aboard his 29-ft sailboat Alice when he ran into trouble amid gale-force winds and 30-foot seas: Alice was dismasted, the unnamed sailor suffered a shoulder injury, and the boat’s engine was incapacitated (it is unknown if this was prior to, or as a result of, the sea state and weather conditions). Fortunately the sailor was able to use his handheld satellite communicator to reach the US Coast Guard. The USCG’s Northwest District watchstanders launched a rescue operation, monitoring the mariner’s position while maintaining contact with the vessel.

The Coast Guard deployed a long-range C-27J Spartan fixed-wing aircraft from Sacramento, California, to reach the scene and provide aerial overwatch. Meanwhile the AMVER (Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue) system was activated, enabling watchstanders to locate the nearest participating vessel and hail them for assistance. The 388-passenger cruise ship Silver Whisper was sailing from Tahiti to Vancouver and diverted its course 120 miles to reach the stricken Alice. A second C-27J air crew was launched from Sacramento to provide overhead communication and supervision.

Upon reaching the disabled vessel, Silver Whisper’s crew maneuvered into position to tie the sailboat alongside. A crew member then boarded Alice and helped the injured sailor aboard the cruise ship. The sailor was attended to by the ship’s medical team until their arrival in Vancouver.

The Coast Guard reports that the sailor had successfully completed the passage between B.C. and Hawaii four times previously. They praised the mariner’s preparedness, saying that he was equipped with sufficient food, water, a life jacket, life raft and a satellite communication device. “His foresight to bring a satellite communicator averted a tragedy,” Coast Guard Northwest District Search and Rescue Program manager Scott Giard said, expressing his thanks and appreciation to the Silver Whisper and her crew for their assistance in rescuing the injured man.

This video was shared, courtesy of the Silver Whisper:

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