9 December 2018

Golden Globe Race skipper Susie Goodall is expected to arrived in Chile on 14 December aboard the Hong Kong-registered cargo ship, Tian Fu.

The crew of the 40,000 tonne vessel rescued the 29-year-old after her Rustler 36, DHL Starlight, pitchpoled and dismasted during a Southern Ocean storm on 5 December 2018. The incident also saw the loss of her jury rig, which meant she was unable to get to safety under her own steam.

Conditions at the time were reported to be 60 knots winds and seven metre seas.

Details of the rescue have still not been released, although a deck crane was used to evacuate Goodall to the ship.

In a statement, Goodall’s family said they were extremely grateful to all those who were involved in the rescue.

‘It was with a heavy heart Susie left DHL Starlight to fend for herself, before she fills with water and rests on the Pacific Ocean floor. DHL Starlight has been her home for the past few years; a faithful friend who stood up valiantly to all the elements, a guardian until their last moments together.

‘Once aboard Tian Fu, Susie remarked how enormously welcome the crew made her feel. They offered lots of food and drink, and over the next week or so she’ll have plenty of time to rest.

‘When she was younger, Susie loved doing somersaults on trampolines. We just never thought she’d do one in a boat,’ concluded the statement.

 

7 December 2018

15:41

Dismasted Golden Globe Race yachtswoman Susie Goodall is now safely onboard the Hong Kong-registered cargo ship, Tian Fu.

The 29-year-old tweeted from her official Twitter account ‘On the ship’.

Details of the rescue operation are expected to be released shortly.

14:05

The operation to rescue Golden Globe Race yachtswoman Susie Goodall is now underway.

The crew of the Hong Kong-registered cargo ship, Tian Fu are now on scene, some 2,000 miles west of Cape Horn.

Goodall had been preparing for a crane lift from the deck of her dismasted Rustler 36, DHL Starlight, which included a one hour test of the yacht’s engine to make sure it was fully functional before the 29-year-old dropped the sea anchor.

But the engine has failed.

This will made the operation more difficult, as without an engine the Rustler 36 must drift at about 1 knot with a sea anchor, meaning the captain of the Tian Fu will have to manoeuvre the 40,000 tonne cargo ship to meet DHL Starlight.

Goodall is currently trying to make repairs to the engine.

Conditions have moderated and the seas have reduced to 3-4metre swells.

Race orgnaisers report that Goodall is well rested, having had 12 hours in her bunk, and has been able to keep some water down.

10:30

Golden Globe Race organisers have announced that the Hong Kong-registered cargo ship, Tian Fu will now reach skipper Susie Goodall by 2100 UTC today.

The 29-year-old is currently preparing her grab bag and equipment, as well as her liferaft for launch if needed.

It is likely that Goodall will be recovered by crane winch from either her dismasted Rustler 36, DHL Starlight or her liferaft after the crew of the Tian Fu confirmed that they will not be able to launch their SOLAS recovery boat.

The good news is that she has managed to get her engine working, which means she will be able to motor to the ship if requested.

Goodall has deployed her sea anchor and is drifting at approximately 1 knot. The sea state ie now 5 metres and the wind has dropped to around 20 knots.

The Tian Fu is currently motoring at between 6-10knots, depending on wind and sea conditions, so Goodall has been advised by MRCC Chile to switch on her SART Radar transponder from 1400UTC.

Goodall’s family issued a statement last night via the skipper’s official Facebook page thanking everyone for their support.

‘The support for Susie has been overwhelming, and we want to say thank you to everyone! All of your kind messages will keep her busy when she gets back online. It’s been 158 days since she used a phone, let’s hope she remembers how they work…

‘She managed to get a few hours sleep last night but is struggling to eat or drink. Because of the damage on deck, water is making its way into the boat. The bilge fills every hour, but she can easily pump it out.

‘She deployed her sea anchor to help keep the boat steady, but it’s not easy in choppy seas without a mast. A cargo ship from Hong Kong is en route, due to arrive in the night. They’ll wait for the morning light before attempting to evacuate her. We’ll post further details about the rescue when we know more.’

6 December 2018

Rescue is on its way to Golden Globe Race skipper Susie Goodall, who’s Rustler 36 pitchpoled and dismasted in a ferocious Southern Ocean storm some 2,000 miles west of Cape Horn yesterday.

The operation is being co-ordinated by MRCC Chile, which has asked the Master of the Hong Kong-registered cargo ship, Tian Fu to divert to rescue the 29-year-old.

The 38,000 tonne general cargo ship, which is sailing from China to Madryn in Argentina, is currently doing 10 knots and is expected to reach Goodall by 0500 UTC tomorrow (7 December 2018).

Goodall’s yacht, DHL Starlight was left without rigging or a jury rig after pitchpoling stern over bow. The yacht’s engine is also not working.

Her safety equipment remains intact and the hull and decking are secure, although small amounts of water are coming in, but the pumps are coping with the egress.

She has also lost all her emergency water.

Over the last eight hours, conditions for Goodall have been moderate to rough, with a large 5 metre sea and winds of around 35 knots.

Continues below…

With no mast the whipping motion is extreme onboard.

‘THIS MOTION IS JUST HORRIBLE! CLINGING ON IN MY BUNK,’ she texted to Race HQ.

‘IN NEED OF A GOOD CUPPA TEA! BUT SADLY NO COOKER’

Plans will be made later today on how to evacuate Goodall from her yacht.

Golden Globe Race HQ said options were being looked at including the launch of the SOLAS man overboard recovery boat by the crew of the Tian Fu. Goodall may also have to climb a rope pilot ladder up the side of the ship.

Although the wind is expected to ease, the sea could remain at 4-5 metres.

 

5 December 2018

Golden Globe Race entrant Susie Goodall is currently bailing out her Rustler 36, DHL Starlight after the yacht pitchpoled and dismasted while battling 60 knot winds.

The 29-year-old is reported to be ok, although she did suffer a ‘nasty head bang’. She will now require assistance, having lost her rig and jury rig, although her safety equipment remains intact. The yacht’s engine is also not working.

The hull and deck of DHL Starlight are secure.

Race organiser said they were alerted to the situation by the UK Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre at 1100 UTC today (5 December 2018) after Goodall activated her EPIRB.

MRCC Chile is now in charge of co-ordinating any rescue, and has contacted a ship 480 miles south west of Goodall’s position. It is expected to reach the area in two days time.

Goodall had sent one of her routine text updates to GGR HQ just a few hours before the incident, which read: ‘TAKING A HAMMERING! WONDERING WHAT ON EARTH IM DOING OUT HERE Position: 45′ 33.054 S 122′ 37.061 W at 05 Dec 08:29 UTC”

She made contact again after activating her EPIRB reporting that her liferaft was ok.

“INTERIOR TOTAL WRECK, LIFERAFT OK, NASTY HEAD BANG AS BOAT PITCHPOLED.UNBELIEVABLY ROLY NOW, TOTALLY & UTTERLY GUTTED!”

Goodall, who was in fourth place, had been battling the storm for more than 24 hours, having to deal with sudden changes in sea state and 90 degree wind shift.  

Speaking to race HQ she said: ‘I have been dismasted. Thought I had holed the hull because the boat filled with water, but the hull is NOT holed. The hull is OK. The boat is destroyed. I can’t make up a jury rig. The only thing left is the hull and deck which remain intact. We were pitchpoled and I was thrown across the cabin and knocked out for a while.’

She confirmed that all hatches, portholes and safety equipment were secured and she didn’t need immediate assistance.

She said that before the incident, she had been enjoying the conditions and felt in control. But then the safety tube on her Monitor self-steering broke and she was forced to trail a drogue anchor astern and take down the mainsail.

She was below decks when the boat was pitchpoled, and when she returned on deck to assess the damage, found that the line attached to the drogue had parted.

Goodall also reported that she ‘has been beaten up and badly bruised’ with cuts and scratches and a big bump on her head.

MSOS, the GGR’s 24 hour medical telecentre has been advised and doctors are now monitoring her symptoms and providing direct medical advice

Thankfully, the winds have since dropped down to 45 knots and conditions are likely to improve further as the storm continues to head east.

Third placed Uku Randmaa is some 400 miles ahead of Goodall in his Rutler 36, One and All, but has also being dealing with the same weather system, which means he will be unable to turn back to offer assistance.

Both had been advised by Race HQ to make east wherever possible in order to avoid the worst of the storm.

Fifth placed Istvan Kopar in his Tradewind 35, Puffin is some 800 miles behind Goodall, and is now on course to intercept DHL Starlight. He is expected to reach her position in six days time.

Goodall had changed her storm tactics after experiencing several knockdowns in the southern Indian Ocean, favouring warps and hand steering over a drogue.

Commenting, Race Chairman Don McIntyre said: ‘We are monitoring the situation carefully, speaking to Susie every hour and working with the Chilean Search and rescue authorities on the best course of action to take. We have also informed her family and are keeping them informed.’

This is the fifth Golden Globe Race entrant to have abandoned the race due to their boat being dismasted.

On 27 August 2018, Norwegian Are Wiig was rolled and dismasted some 400 miles south west of Cape Town, but managed to make it to the South African port using his jury rig.

Both Irish skipper Gregor MuGuckin and Indian Navy Commander Abhilash Tomy had to be rescued after their yachts were dismasted on 21 September 2018 during storms in the southern Indian Ocean. McGuckin also managed to set up a jury rig on his Biscay 36 Hanley Energy Endurance and sailed to assist Tomy, who had suffered a broken back.

They were later rescued some 1,900 miles south-west of Perth, Australia, by the crew of the French fisheries patrol vessel, Osiris.

French Golden Globe Race yachtsman Loïc Lepage was also rescued on 23 October 2018 after his Nicholson 32 MK X Laaland dismasted 600 miles south-west of Perth and began taking on water.

Out of the 16 skippers who crossed the start line on 1 July 2018 in France, just five are left in the race, including French solo yachtsman Jean-Luc Van Den Heede whose Rustler 36 Matmut pitchpoled during a Southern Ocean storm, resulting in damage to the connecting bolt attachment to the mast that holds all four lower shrouds.

He has since made repairs at sea, and continues to lead in the race, predicting he will cross the finish line by 23 January 2019.