Tian-Fu

The "Tian Fu" has been diverted from its voyage from China to Puerto Madryn for the rescue operation to pluck the British solo yachtswoman Susie Goddall, from the "DHL Starlight" after her boat was wrecked during the 30,000-mile Golden Globe Race. The boat lost its mast and flooded while 2,000 miles west of Cape Horn. The cargo ship was expected to reach her position on Dec 7, 2018, at 5 a.m. Though conditions were much better than when her boat flipped over, the waves could still be five metres high when the vessel reaches her. She may have to scramble up a ladder to the ship’s bridge or be hauled up in a cargo net. Susie Goddall remained in regular contact with race HQ. The flooding was under control, and she will endeavour to coax the "DHL Starlight"’s engine to run again in case she is required to manoeuvre her yacht alongside the ship. She will also ensure that the yacht’s life raft is ready to deploy. It will still be dark when the "Tian Fu" reaches the scene and the rescue operation is unlikely to commence before daylight. It will be for the captain to decide the best method to transfer Goodall from yacht to ship. This could entail launching the ship’s own man-overboard vessel, or lowering a cargo net or ladder over the side for her to climb up from the yacht or her life raft. Goodall was unable to hold down food or drink and felt quite weak, possibly because of seasickness. At 11.15 a.m. GMT (5:15 a.m. EST), Goddell confirmed that she had sighted the "Tian Fu". Sea swells were up to 4 metres high. The operation was made more tricky because the yacht's engine was not working, which would have allowed her to pull alongside the cargo ship. As a result, the captain of the cargo ship had to manoeuvre alongside her, before she could be lifted off. Goddall was finally pulled onto the "Tian Fu" at 3.35 p.m. and was now underway to Punta Arenas aboard the freighter with an ETA as of Dec 12. Report with photo: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/stranded-british-yachtswoman-susie-goodall-rescued-5cnw6lctz https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dt04Oi7W0AE2u0P.jpg