Yachtswoman in sea rescue drama: I’d do it all again
A BRITISH yachtswoman who was rescued after her vessel capsized during a solo round-the-world race says she would do it again ‘in a heartbeat’ despite almost dying.
Susie Goodall, 29, was speaking after arriving in Chile on the Chinese cargo ship that rescued her when she was stranded for two days in a storm 2,000 miles west of Cape Horn.
She was met at the Chilean port of Punta Arenas on Friday by her mother Brigitte and brother Tim, who had flown in from Britain.
Ms Goodall was forced to scuttle her £200,000 yacht DHL Starlight after being rescued. She capsized on December 5 during the Golden Globe race. In Chile she said: ‘If you asked me if I would do this again, now knowing what it’s really like, I would say yes in a heartbeat.’
Ms Goodall – the only female and youngest participant in the perilous race – was knocked unconscious after her 36ft yacht flipped over in 70mph winds and 12ft waves, snapping off the mast.
She spent a week on the Chinese cargo ship Tian Fu before arriving in Punta Arenas feeling ‘a little wobbly both emotionally and physically as I find my land legs again’.
On her website, she wrote: ‘I said to the Chilean navy captain who brought me ashore from Tian Fu, “I created so much work for everyone involved in the rescue,” to which he responded, “Of course you must do it again!”
‘You may ask why?! Some people just live for adventure – it’s human nature. And for me, the sea is where my adventure lies.
‘Having grown up admiring Tracy Edwards and Ellen MacArthur, I just knew that one day I needed to try to do this too. Every seafarer understands the risks involved but that’s what makes us stronger and able to overcome other challenges in life.
‘I can’t tell you what is next beyond spending time with family and friends over Christmas and enjoying a glass of glogg, but that fire in my belly is far from out, so watch this space!’
Ms Goodall was 157 days into the 30,000-mile race, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s first solo circumnavigation of the globe, and was in fourth position when she capsized.