Coral-Leader

On Aug 26, 2018, at 7.30 a.m. the CROSS Med received a distress signal from the French yacht "Jab de Mer" (MMSI-No.: 227283390) , requesting the evacuation of he six people on board, including a 5-year-old child. The vessel was about 180 kilometers southeast of Toulon. The CROSS Med broadcasted a Mayday relay to which the "Coral Leader" which was enroute from Livorno to Tarragona, responded. Unfortunately, once on the zone, the difficult weather conditions did not allow to recover the crew of the boat. Then it was decided to send a Panther helicopter of the French Navy to take them off. At the same time, a surveillance aircraft of the customs, which was on a flight in the Mediterranean, diverted to provide assistance to the operation and ensure permanent contact with the boat. The "Coral Leader" also stayed close to the sailboat to shelter it from wind and swell to facilitate rescue operations. The helicopter arrived at 10 a.m. and initially hoisted three people, including the child. During a second flight around noon the remaining crew aboard the "Jab de Mer" was taken off. They were, apparently healthy, transported to the Sainte-Musse hospital in Toulon for routine medical checks. Wave heights on scene were 4-6 meters with wind speed of about 50 km/h. The "Coral Leader" resumed its voyage after the assistance and berthed in Tarragona on Aug 28 at 6.5 a.m. French report with photo: https://www.premar-mediterranee.gouv.fr/communiques-presse/cross-med-coordonne-une-operation-evacuation-voilier-mer-large-toulon.html