Solo sailor knocked unconscious during storm
The rescue of a British woman sailing solo in a round-the-world race is under way after she lost her mast and was knocked unconscious in a vicious storm in the Southern Ocean.
Golden Globe Race officials said yesterday on the race website that they have been in regular radio contact with Susie Goodall since she regained consciousness.
Goodall is said to be ‘‘safe and secure’’ after losing her mast in the Southern Ocean, 3200 kilometres west of Cape Horn.
Chilean authorities have directed the MV Tian Fu to rescue her. The carrier is expected to reach Goodall today.
Goodall, 29, is the youngest entrant and the sole female in the demanding race.
Her entry on the race website says she started sailing at the age of 3 and has sailed solo across the Atlantic Ocean.
Her text messages to race officials chronicled the disaster that disabled her boat.
On Thursday, she texted: ‘‘Taking a hammering! Wondering what on earth I’m doing out here,’’ and sent her position.
Four hours later, she said: ‘‘Dismasted. Hull OK. No form of jury rig. Total loss,’’ and updated her position.
Next came this: ‘‘Interior total wreck. Liferaft OK.’’
Then came word of her injury: ‘‘Nasty head bang as boat pitchpoled. Unbelievably roly now.’’
And a minute later: ‘‘Totally & utterly gutted!’’
The competition began on July 1 in Les Sables-d’Olonne, France, with 18 skippers each planning to sail roughly 48,280km alone, non-stop and without outside assistance before returning to the same French port.
Some modern technology, including the use of satellite navigation aids, were banned as race officials tried to recreate the conditions used in the first Golden Globe Race in 1968. –AP