Participants in the 2022 ARC transatlantic rally formed a ‘pipeline’ to refuel the Grand Soleil 54 Take Off after it was dismasted some 1,400 miles east of St Lucia.
The Take Off crew reported they were checking the mast footing as it was making a noise, when they heard a cracking sound and the gooseneck sheared through the mast. “The mast fell on the starboard side with [crewmember] Johan under,” Take Off's Louise Wennberg posted on the boat Facebook page. “As the mainsail was sheeted, the wind raised the mast immediately relieving Johan and just like a huge hand, pulled the mast up so it fell over on the port side.”
The crew quickly cut away all the rigging using tools varying from a battery operated angle grinder, metal saw and even a bread knife, freeing the mast from the boat. They also issued a Pan Pan, which was received by Lagoon 450F Aphrodite 1, just two miles behind.
EVACUATION
Aphrodite 1 was fortunately able to put a doctor on board to examine the crew who'd been trapped under the rigging and injured their hip. They were subsequently evacuated with two others to the US Navy Research Ship Ronald H Brown.
Aphrodite 1 was also the first rally yacht to transfer spare diesel fuel to Take Off. Take Off’s skipper Jorgen Wennberg had assessed their needs as close to 900lt of fuel required to reach St Lucia under engine. ARC Rally Control put out a fleet-wide call for assistance, which resulted in 21 yachts volunteering jerry cans or spare fuel from their tanks. The US Navy also gave the crew six full jerry cans, and filled five more of Take Off’s own – a total exchange of over 200lt.
The remaining Take Off crew, which included two children, set up a small jury-rig using their stormsail and a spinnaker pole.
Other yachts continued to supply Take Off with fuel over the coming days. “We used a floating line and attached a fender, a spare life vest with a little light, and the three jerry cans and dropped that in the water just in front of them,” reported the skipper of Oyster 56 Amanzi.
ARC yachts Joanna and Salt were next to rendezvous with Take Off. Take Off’s Louise Wennberg recalls: “We knew we were to meet Joanna so we ate breakfast, chatting as a family when we saw a sail on the horizon – it's amazing how the sight of a sail has different meanings according to which sailing condition you are in. It was like we had never seen a boat before and were surprised, euphorically happy and relieved at the same time”.
The next problem was that Take Off’s impro
