A solo rower was rescued from the Atlantic Ocean east of Puerto Rico after his rowboat capsized in the course of the World’s Hardest Row Race, a 3,000-mile rowing race from San Sebastian de la Gomera, Spain, to Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua.
Benoit Bourguet, 47, a citizen of Belgium, was rescued by Coast Guard Sector San Juan Command Center watchstanders and the crew of the Horten Liberian-flagged tanker ship on Wednesday night after his single-man rowing vessel, City of Liverpool, was struck by two “rogue waves and capsized in 13 to 15-foot seas,” according to a press release from the U.S. Coast Guard.
Bourguet was forced to deploy and board his life raft after encountering the waves, the U.S. Coast Guard said. He attached his life raft to the capsized rowboat.
“Coast Guard Sector San Juan Command Center watchstanders received an unregistered 406 MHz Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacon EPIRB signal from the City of Liverpool rowboat at roughly 2 a.m. Wednesday, alerting of a possible distress roughly 1,100 nautical miles east of Puerto Rico,” the Coast Guard added.
The watchstanders then received a second emergency distress signal from a private locating beacon device from the identical area because the rowboat. They then contacted the World’s Hardest Row Race safety co-ordinator, who confirmed they’d not been in a position to contact Bourguet after many messages had gone unanswered.
An Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER) callout was issued by the watchstanders “to contact the 1,092-foot Horten tanker and Enhanced Group Calling (EGC) to notify other vessels within the vicinity to be looking out for distress.”
“Additionally they contacted the rowing vessel Old Sea Dogs, also participating within the race, who made VHF radio callouts to Bourguet, nonetheless, these calls also went unanswered,” the press release continued. “Meanwhile, the Horten tanker, which was transiting on a voyage from Germany of Offshore Guyana, received the AMVER communication and diverted for over 12 hours transiting roughly 110 miles to the distress signal’s position.”
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In keeping with the U.S. Coast Guard, the watchstanders maintained communication with the Horten tanker ship’s crew.
“Once within the vicinity, Horten’s ship crew sighted a life raft and confirmed a survivor,” the press release said. “As a result of the heavy sea states, the Horten ship crew used a life ring to securely recuperate the survivor, who was confirmed to be Bourguet.
The U.S. Coast Guard said that Bourguet was “dehydrated but otherwise in good health” and he “reported being in distress for roughly 24 hours” while maintaining his “capsized vessel tied to the life raft until his rescue.”
Benoit Bourguet was rescued after his boat capsized within the Atlantic Ocean east of Puerto Rico.
United States Coast Guard
“We’re very pleased with the seamless coordination between our Sector San Juan Command Center watchstanders and the courageous crew and captain of the motor tanker Horten, which resulted within the successful rescue of a mariner,” said Lt. Kenneth Snyder, Coast Guard Sector San Juan mission co-ordinator for the case.
“The Horten’s participation within the AMVER program was critical and the crew’s selflessness and swift response embody the spirit of this voluntary program, where mariners stand able to help each other,” he added.
No other vessels within the race have been reported to be in distress, the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed.
World’s Hardest Row took to Facebook to announce that Bourguet “is now safely on board the rescuing vessel.”
“On Tuesday 21 January, an emergency beacon (EPIRB) alert was received from the solo rowing vessel ‘City of Liverpool,’ competing under the team name Viva For Life. Consistent with established safety procedures, the alert was immediately escalated to the relevant search and rescue authorities, who coordinated the response in cooperation with Atlantic Campaigns,” they wrote.
“Benoit’s support network have been informed, and we is not going to be sharing further details at this stage,” they continued. “World’s Hardest Row would love to thank the search and rescue authorities and the vessel involved for his or her swift and skilled assistance.”
The person running Bourguet’s Facebook page while he was participating within the race shared an update on his account, writing, “Lots of you’re concerned, rightly so, but we’re pleased to report that Ben is okay.”
“The organization derailed a ship since 4 am yesterday Wednesday, Ben was recovered protected and sound last night around 11 pm UTC. None of us have had direct contact with him up to now. His relatives have been informed, and we’re following the situation closely with them,” the person wrote from Bourguet’s account.
“So Ben could have a protracted story to inform when he returns! So any worries could be lifted,” the continued.
The person added that “Benoit would have obviously wished to have the opportunity to complete this race” but a very powerful thing “is that he’s protected and sound.”
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