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British Sailor Runs Into Trouble in Retro Race
In July a group of intrepid sailors set off from Les Sables-d’Olonne, France. It was the start of the 30,000-mile Golden Globe Race – a retro race in which solo sailors circumnavigate the globe using boats without satellite navigation or other sailing aids that rely on modern technology. The back-to-basics race was organised in honour of the 50th anniversary of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston circumnavigating the globe for the very first time in a non-stop solo sailing adventure. British yachtswoman Susie Goodall was not only the only female taking part in the race, she was also the youngest sailor, aged 29.
Braving the fury of the ocean
On the 157th day of the race it was announced that Goodall was in fourth place but was battling the massive seas and ferocious winds of a raging storm. The dauntless sailor later confirmed that her boat, a Rustler 36 named DHL Starlight, had pitchpoled and dismasted. Goodall was flung across the cabin and lost consciousness for a while. She reported on the emergency communications that she was uncomfortable but okay, and that her boat was completely destroyed. At this time Goodall was around 2,000 miles west of Cape Horn off the coast of Chile, braving 60-knot winds and enormous waves of up to 7 metres tall.
Rescued!
On day 159 Susie Goodall was rescued, bringing an end to her 50-hour ordeal. The rescue mission started at 10.30am when HM Coastguard in Hampshire picked up a distress call from the DHL Starlight. Two vessels in the vicinity of Goodall and her yacht were asked by Chilean authorities to divert their course to help the stranded sailor. The crew of the MV Tian Fu, a cargo ship from Hong Kong came to the sailor’s aid. After the rescue was confirmed, it was reported that Susie Goodall was uninjured and in good spirits.