Thread: Australia : Navy closer to reaching stricken sailor

Navy closer to reaching stricken sailor
Sat Dec 20 2008
By Simon Mossman

A Royal Australian Navy frigate, racing to rescue a seriously injured solo round-the-world sailor in the Indian Ocean, is expected to reach him as early as Saturday evening.

Yann Elies, a competitor in the Vendee Globe race, broke his left thighbone and possibly several ribs in a fall on the deck of his yacht Generali in rough seas 1,200km south-west of Perth.

HMAS Arunta left Fremantle shortly after 6am (WDT) on Friday and should reach Elies' boat on Saturday evening, much earlier than expected due to favourable conditions.

"The ship was originally expecting to reach the site on Sunday, but the latest update is that it is now looking at arriving on scene tonight after making better time through the sea," a defence force spokesman told AAP.

Elies broke his leg early on Thursday morning when the Generali was slammed by a huge wave as he was changing sails on the 18-metre vessel.

Race organisers said the 34-year-old Frenchman had managed to drag himself to his bunk but can't move, which means he's unable to reach his first aid kit and morphine supply.

As well as a rescue team, the Arunta is carrying a Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) medic and between them they have been practising rescue manoeuvres in an inflatable rubber boat (IRB) alongside the frigate, RFDS spokeswoman Lesleigh Green told AAP.

"They have been trying to figure out how they are going to go about this, as weather conditions around his location are reported to be deteriorating" Ms Green said.

"Race organisers say the sailor is confined to his bunk and cannot move and unable to reach for his morphine supply, which is a great concern.

"He must be in the most stressful pain and he has not had anything really to eat or drink, except a little bit of lemon juice and milk, so he will be dehydrated."

Ms Green said that after successfully boarding Elies' boat, the RFDS doctor would insert an IV drip and administer anaesthetic before transferring him from the Generali to the IRB and then onto the frigate.

"The patient's also been complaining of chest pains and difficulty in breathing which could mean he also has broken ribs as well as the broken leg," she added.

In the six-race history of the French round-the-world event for unassisted solo sailors on Open 60 class yachts, records show that two lives have been lost.

Two other race competitors, Tony Bullimore and Thierry Dubois, were rescued by Australian defence forces during the 1996-97 event after getting into trouble in the seas south of Western Australia.

news.ninemsn.com.au




yachtingworld.com

HMAS Arunta left Fremantle shortly after 6am (WDT) on Friday and should reach Elies' boat on Saturday evening

Why would they take days to sail to the stricken boat?

Pararescuemen (paramedics) can freefall from a C-130 over the boat and treat the sailor within a few hours. I presume race organizers have insurance to defray these inevitable rescue costs.

Why would they take days to sail to the stricken boat?

Elies was forced to abandon the Vendee Globe round-the-world yacht race on Thursday while in eighth place aboard Generali in the Southern Ocean about 800 nautical miles south of the Australian coast.

He managed to drag himself into the cabin and activate the yacht's autopilot after breaking his leg in a fall when a huge wave slammed into the vessel as he was changing a sail.

But he has been unable to secure the 60-foot (18-metre) yacht for bad weather forecast to hit the area.

The Australian navy frigate HMAS Arunta, carrying a doctor from the famed Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) left the West Australian port of Fremantle before dawn Friday for the long dash to the stricken yachtsman.

RFDS medical director Steven Langford said weather conditions were deteriorating and Elies was suffering badly.

AFP: Australian navy ship races to rescue French sailor

Pararescuemen (paramedics) can freefall from a C-130 over the boat and treat the sailor within a few hours.

how are they going to get aboard ?

I presume race organizers have insurance to defray these inevitable rescue costs.

far too much bandwidth wasted on this already .

They can get aboard that boat -- no problems.

maybe now that is hove to but it was sailing under autopilot when I asked that question and if your expecting to drop them in the sea and then have them succeeded in boarding a sailing yacht (moving at plus 10 kts ) then I want some of whatever it is your using .

http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/mediat...ios/play/4967/

http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/mediat...deos/play/610/

Day 40, Summary of the French Speaking Radio Broadcast

News

December 19. 2008 at 13:47

© Royal Australian Navy

The Royal Australian Navy frigate Arunta (pictured) is expected to arrive at Generali's position Saturday afternoon (GMT). The ship is 118 metres long, has a crew of over 100, and is captained by Commander Timothy Brown. A full medical team is on board. Today's radio broadcast brought news live from Marc Guillemot as he stands by Generali, as weel as the thoughts of other skippers racing in this Vendee Globe.

Marc Guillemot (Safran): “ I am 500 metres away from Yann's boat. We have talked a lot and we both got some sleep. The wind has got up 28 knots and the seas are getting rougher. I didn't manage to get him the medicine I threw across to him. Some went in the water and some in the cockpit. I could see his head and hands moving and he could see me, which was a great moment and must have reassured him. I shouted to him. What is difficult for me is being so close and yet not being able to help him. I can see a difference psychologically since I arrived and the fact that I'm near him is a support for him. I'm stubborn and Yann too, as we're both Bretons. I have no qualms about the race. I'm here and I'm just relieved to see he is reassured.”

Armel Le Cléac'h (Brit Air): “Slightly calmer conditions than 48 hours ago, but wind strengthening again, as a new front arrives. Very hard to hear about Yann Eliès. The Indian was not very kind to the Vendée Globe racers. We didn't have any major storms, but there was a lot of damage. I received the distress signal from the Maritime Agency and checked to see whether I should head for them, even if it meant sailing upwind, but Sam was able to get there more easily. There are two giant icebergs near Jean Le Cam, so I have gybed. The race comes after safety so even if it is not a good strategy I'm gybing. I haven't looked at the rankings and am just concentrating on getting out of the Indian safely. I think I share the same vision as Vincent and we both reacted in the same way. We're certainly not pushing the boats 100% in these conditions. I'm pleased about where I am.”

vendeeglobe.org

and the closest one of these toys is where ?

not to mention the sea state , two guys with broken legs ?

Originally Posted by Mid

maybe now that is hove to but it was sailing under autopilot when I asked that question and if your expecting

If he had just enough moxy to get himself into his bunk and no where else,, How in hell did he get the sails and rudders in the correct config to Heave to??

Originally Posted by Mid

"He must be in the most stressful pain and he has not had anything really to eat or drink, except a little bit of lemon juice and milk, so he will be dehydrated."

But looks like he is keeping up his calcium intake to facilitate healing of broken bones and he will not have scurvy as long as his lemon juice holds out.

How in hell did he get the sails and rudders in the correct config to Heave to??

good question , no answer yet

Arunta shoots line with hook across stricken ship and hopefully grabs pointy end somewhere, attaches sea anchor to other end of line, put out Seals in inflatables, gets Seals aboard, Seals control yacht, Seals attend to injured. Problem solved.
Remember that you are talking about the Royal Australian Navy here.

Originally Posted by Mid

This is taken from the on-board video of the Vendee Globe yacht Safran

Stuff all sea.

Really shits me to see resources put towards saving idiots sailing the world on surfboards with sails. The need to get a better grip, particularly on the ocean and a deep keel wouldn't hurt.

Originally Posted by Mid

two guys with broken legs

where did the second guy come from Mid?..

Originally Posted by Johnny Longprong

a deep keel wouldn't hurt

yes have to be the budget variety that's for sure...

where did the second guy come from Mid?..

hypothetical , in reply to Tex's solution

the budget variety that's for sure...

latest all singing all dancing technology , astro dollars ............

From the first pic in the line, the sails do appear to be in somewhat of a correct setting for a storm or possibly to heave to, So everything looks cool to me.
Looks like a storm jib and at least 3 tucks in the main.

agree , possible he managed all that before climbing into the rack and ain't got nothing left





the rack , note pic is from Sept .


Sat Dec 20, 1:03 AM ET


Self-portrait released and made by Yann Elies in September at Les Sables-d'Olonne, western France, on his monohull. An Australian navy frigate was racing against deteriorating weather conditions Saturday to reach the French yachtsman badly injured during a solo round-the-world race.
(AFP/File/Yann Elies)

news.yahoo.com

Who pays the cost of rescuing daredevils that risk their lives and put other lives in danger because they need to prove something?

Vendee Globe : HMAS Aruta should reach Yan Elies around 1000 UTC
Saturday, 20 December 2008

The Australin Navy frigate Aruta should be alongside Generali by about 1000 UTC, ready to take off Yann Eliès who has a serious fracture of his left femur.

Yann, who is still in a great deal of pain, is still receiving the moral support of Marc Guillemot, who is in near constant radio or visual contact.

On land, Erwan Sreff, administrative director of Generali and race doctor Jean-Yves Chauve have taken turns to speak to Yann, whose condition has stabilised since he was able to reach and take some tranquilisers.

The medical team on board the frigate has also spoken twice to Yann.

HMAS Aruta should arrive with about 3 hours of daylight in which to prepare Yann for the evacuation and get him on board.

Wind conditions are expected to be 22 knots from the north west, but weakening.

The sea state is rough.

Bénédicte Etienne Translation Marian Martin

bymnews.com

The plan, which has been put in place in cooperation with the Generali Sailing Team managers who know the layout and handling of the Open 60, with Vendée Globe race direction, with the MRCC and Royal Australian Navy, is to launch a large RIB and to go on board Generali with a stretcher and spinal splint.

It has been recommended that the keel is canted to reduce the freeboard to make to easier to lower Yann into the RIB.

Once on board the Frigate he will be assessed by the civilian doctor on board. There are full facilites should it be decided that an immediate surgical procedure is required.

Eliès will be taken to Perth military hospital.

Generali, the Open 60, will be left by the crew and the Vendée Globe race directors will continue to monitor her position.

The mainsail with 3 reefs will be left up but they will furl the staysail.

Doors will be shut and the helm tied off to allow the boat to drift.

A crew Jean-Baptiste Epron and Philippe Laot, from Team Generali, have left for Australia to go aboard a motor launch which will take them out to the area, and they will sail her back to Southern Australia.

Newswire : Arunta on station around 0930GMT - Vendée Globe

The French should never be allowed near the sea. How many of these perfume wearing, girl licking, non english speaking wankers should we rescue????

The Royal Australian Naval Frigate HMAS Arunta is making good headway towards Générali and Safran and at 9h GMT this morning, it was reported to have picked up the two boats on its radar.

Newswire : Générali and Safran on the radar screen - Vendée Globe

local time is +7 for those who don't know .

Originally Posted by Mid

It has been recommended that the keel is canted to reduce the freeboard

In laymans terms?..does this mean that the keel is retractable?..

no , swings from side to side , so used in reverse of it's intended design it will tilt to boat closer to the water .

look at the pic above and imagine the keel on the other side , ( in the water ).