The four Americans took part in the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge, a 3,000-mile rowing race. On December 12, they set off from La Gomera, one of the Canary Islands. From there they would sail to the island of Antigua in the eastern Caribbean Sea
But on the morning of December 28, after more than two weeks of travelling, their boat capsized. That’s why the Americans had to use their own life raft, which, according to Hanzevast Shipping, was about 4 square meters.
On the evening of 28 December, the large freighter ms Hanze Göteborg and the small raft passed each other. The freighter’s crew received a weak, so-called Mayday distress signal from the raft. At that time there was about 11 miles between the vessel and the four Americans.
Captain Yevhenii Feshchenko then ordered his crew to launch a so-called “search and rescue” operation. Despite the poor connection to the raft, the raft could be located. After two hours, when it was already dark, the crew of the merchantman sighted the four people on the raft.
The director of the shipping company speaks of a miracle
“It’s a miracle that the crew found the life raft,” says Peter Dekker, director of Hanzevast Shipping. “The weather was bad at the time with high winds, high waves and waves at least 4 meters high. The men were incredibly lucky.”
After the four Americans entered the freighter via a ladder, their raft sank shortly thereafter. They were medically examined and given warm clothing and food. They may also contact their family by telephone.
The men remain aboard the freighter. She will dock in the Canadian city of Contrecoeur on January 8. Miss Hanze Göteborg left Mozambique on 5 December. The cargo consists of 25,000 tons of titanium iron ore.
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