Just In: Ronnie Simpson Dismasted in South Atlantic Ocean
Update, 2:00 p.m. (PST):
Ronnie Simpson has been taken aboard the the Taiwanese bulk carrier SAKIZAYA YOUTH.
1:00 p.m. (PT):
We’re devastated to read on the the Global Solo Challenge page that Ronnie Simpson’s Shipyard Brewing has dismasted in the South Atlantic Ocean.
Here’s the news from the Global Solo Challenge, “It is with a very heavy heart that we have to write this update. At approximately 0200 UTC Ronnie Simpson dismasted on Shipyard Brewing. Ronnie is well and is not injured but wind and waves make the situation quite critical. He is approximately 650 Nautical Miles due east-south-east from Buenos Aires. Ronnie is in contact with the coast guard, has deployed one of his EPIRBS and has determined that the safest course of action is to be rescued.
“He has been sailing east for days to distance himself away from the worst of a storm due to hit him in 24-36 hours. He is therefore rightly concerned about the negative development of the weather in his area. At the time of dismasting he was reaching east when the boat took off a wave crest and dismasted upon landing in the trough of the wave. There are several videos posted on his official Instagram profile @captainron_official which we have also relayed on our channels, we are on standby awaiting for further information regarding plan of action with the rescue centre. He is not in any immediate danger but clearly the situation is made difficult by the weather forecast.”
Additional information from the Global Solo Challenge, “The Taiwanese bulk carrier SAKIZAYA YOUTH is approximately 50 nautical miles away, or about 3 hours at current speed from Ronnie and his rescue ship should be able to make visual contact in daylight and hopefully even complete the transfer before it gets dark. The time of the transfer from his boat to the large bulk carrier will inevitably be quite delicate but luckily the vessel will be in position before the arrival of tomorrow’s storm which would have otherwise significantly complicated matters.”
This will mean abandoning Shipyard Brewing ahead of a significant storm system on the way.
I first met Ronnie in Maui after he was dismasted off Kahului. We got to be good friends over the time he was able to get a new rig together because Boboe Stanford had an old mast behind his shop, we had a salvaged boom, and helped him get his mainsail he found on Craigslist cut to fit. He worked in the loft and was a lot of fun. I would have hired him but he was on his way in his engineless Cal 2-27. Australia was the goal and he made it just fine. He has stayed in touch over the years and it is so very sad to hear of his disaster, but he is safe and will have more adventures and do more great sailing. Go Ronnie!
So sorry Ronnie, you’re finishing your adventure and this race as a champion! More ahead I am sure…thanks for taking us all along for this ride.
If I’m not mistaken, Shipyard Brewing began life as Newcastle Australia, competing in the BOC race in 1994-95. In that race, with our friend Alan Nebauer as skipper, she was dismasted some 600 miles west of the Cape. Alan, with some superhuman (IMO) effort set a jury rig and rounded the horn, reaching the Falklands where a replacement mast was shipped from England. Amazingly he was able to complete the race and the boat went on to compete again as Balance IIRC. So, she had a hard but interesting life… not many vessels have been dismasted twice in the Southern Ocean! I’m so sorry that Ronnie has had to abandon her… and his race. Glad that the rescue has been successful and that he will doubtless race again.
Jim
Bummer…