Sunken sailor listed for top bravery prize
Captain made sure crew escaped uninjured
A SAILOR has been nominated for a bravery award after trying to save a sinking yacht and its crew in the Caribbean.
Experienced seaman Adrian Johnson, from Thornton, has been shortlisted for a Maritime Hero award for his lifesaving efforts.
Mr Johnson, a company director and farmer, was skipper of a chartered 48ft yacht in January when the vessel’s steering failed.
The yacht, carrying seven men and women, with three experienced sailors, including Adrian, were on a 15-day cruise organised by Nottinghamshire-based Trent Offshore Group, sailing the 350 miles from Caribbean islands St Martin to Martinique.
The group had chartered two Benetau Oceanis 48ft yachts, Dalton and Joule, each with a crew of seven. On a 50-mile section of the trip from Antigua to Guadeloupe, Mr Johnson’s yacht, called Joule, lost its steering about eight miles north west of Guadaloupe.
The 61-year-old father-of-two, whose wife, Diane, 61, was among the crew, sent a VHF Pan-Pan emergency alert - one step down from a Mayday - to the Coastguard.
Mr Johnson and ship’s mate Keith Stedman were unable to get the yacht’s emergency steering working.
Aware of the emergency, Trent Offshore Group’s Presiding Master Neil Macfarlane, who was skippering Dalton three or four miles away, sailed to Joule’s assistance. Dalton took the stricken yacht in tow, but made little progress in heavy seas.
By now, Joule was taking on water and the Pan-Pan alert was upgraded to a Mayday, indicating life and vessel were at risk.
A Coastguard helicopter flew to the scene and dropped two divers into the water who boarded Joule, which continued to sink.
A decision was taken to transfer Joule’s crew - except Mr Johnson and Mr Stedman - onto Dalton.
Mr Macfarlane said: “It was quite difficult transferring the crew from one yacht to another as, in the swell, the yachts move up and down independently of each other and the right moment to jump has to be chosen.”
Mate Stedman was eventually taken off, leaving Mr Johnson alone on the sinking yacht until he too was taken off.
Mr Johnson, who holds a Yachtmaster certificate, said: “When we lost steering, the wheel began swinging violently from port to starboard. The auto pilot basically self destructed and damaged the integrity of the hull.
“We were unable to get the emergency steering working and the crew reported that we were taking on water. We put out a PanPan and were told by the Coast- gaurd the nearest lifeboat was six hours away.
“Our mechanical and manual bilge pumps failed which is when I turned the Pan-Pan into a Mayday.”
He added: “We were very fortunate that the Dalton, with Neil Macfarlane aboard, was close to us, otherwise it might have been a different story altogether.”
Sharks and Barracuda are common in the Caribbean, although attacks are reportedly rare.
He added: “By the time I was ready to get off, the water was waist deep and the yacht sank two hours after everyone was off.
“It was a character building experience. It hasn’t put me off.
“I’ve sailed all over the world and I bought myself a yacht after it happened.”
Mr Johnson has been nominated for his exceptional bravery and is one of 30 national semi-finalists in The Old Pulteney Maritime Heroes Awards, sponsored by Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
His nomination states: “Although Joule sank later in the day, the rescue of the yacht’s crew without injury is partly down to Adrian’s excellent seamanship in a fair swell, and the professionalism, training, competence and experience he brought to the incident throughout.”