Ht-Hua-Shan

The Golden Globe Race skipper Loïc Lepage was safely onboard the "Shiosai" on Oct 23 after his Nicholson 32 MK X was dismasted and began taking on water some 600 miles south west of Perth. He was now heading to Las Palmas, Canary Islands, onboard the bulk carrier which was underways from Gladstone when it diverted. He was not injured, and was successfully transferred to the bulk carrier using the ship’s SOLAS man overboard recovery vessel at around 12 p.m. AEDT. Lepage had cut away all of the rigging ahead of leaving his yacht, although it was not clear as yet if he has scuttled the "Laaland". The operation was co-ordinated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), which sent a Challenger jet and a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft to provide assistance with the rescue. Solo skipper Francis Tolan, who was taking part in the French event, La Longue Route, which commemorates Bernard Moitessier’s decision to abandon the 1968-69 Golden Globe Race, was also on standby. The skipper of the Beneteau Ocean 43, "Alizes II" had diverted some 300 miles to assist in the operation. A spokesman for the Golden Globe Race thanked all those involved in the rescue efforts. Reports with photos and video: https://www.yachtingmonthly.com/boat-events/golden-globe-race/loic-lepage-waits-for-rescue-dismasted-southern-ocean-australia-67769#W2qbgdDVKk0CVeAB.99 https://www.amsa.gov.au/news-community/news-and-media-releases/rescue-french-solo-yachtsman-indian-ocean https://100255-my.sharepoint.com/personal/mediambx_amsa_gov_au/Documents/Forms/All.aspx?slrid=ad269b9e%2D00d0%2D7000%2D27e8%2D4efd019f5adc&RootFolder=%2Fpersonal%2Fmediambx%5Famsa%5Fgov%5Fau%2FDocuments%2FLaaland%20yacht%20rescue%20Oct%2021%202018%2FFOR%20RELEASE%20Laaland%20video%20and%20images&FolderCTID=0x012000383C97204D2C2645828C7C9A07D50CEA

After the French Golden Globe participant Loïc Lepage activated the EPIRB of his Nicholson 32 "Laaland" on Oct 20, 2018, after the mast broke 600 miles SW of Perth in 25 knots winds and three meter swell, the "Shiosai" was one of two ships to divert towards the 62 year old single hand sailor. He feared that parts of the rigg might damage the hull, and in fact the yacht suffered water ingress of initially 30 liters per hour, increasing with the deteriorating weather with winds of 40 knots. The JRCC sent a mayday relay and deployed a Challenger aircraft. Also Francis Tolan, skipper of the Beneteau Oceanis 43 "Alizes II", who was sailing the Longue Route around the world and was 300 miles NW of Lepage changed its course,