A new 63-page report from the Cruising Club of America (CCA) examines 28 yacht-to-yacht crew rescues, offering practical lessons for offshore sailors who may find themselves the nearest — or only — vessel able to answer a Mayday.
Produced with US Sailing and the Bermuda Race Foundation, the report examines the decisions and challenges involved in rescuing sailors from another yacht, from the initial distress call and locating the casualty to transferring crew safely and dealing with the aftermath.
The study grew out of recommendations following incident reviews of the 2024 Newport Bermuda Race. Researchers examined documented rescues and interviewed sailors involved in several of the incidents.
Of the 28 cases studied, 23 involved sinking vessels and five involved disabled yachts. There were no fatalities among the incidents reviewed, although the report acknowledges that its findings are based on documented rescues that were successfully completed.
William Strassberg, MD, past chair of CCA's Safety and Seamanship Committee and chair of the report team, said the findings should help sailors prepare for a situation few have experienced.
"Most offshore sailors never expect to be the vessel that answers a Mayday, but whether far offshore or coastal, you may be the nearest or only boat able to assist and rescue another," he said.
"This report gives skippers and crews the lessons from 28 real rescues, so the first time they think through a yacht-to-yacht rescue isn't in the middle of one."
Five Stages of a Yacht-to-Yacht Rescue
The report identifies five stages common to yacht-to-yacht rescues: establishing communications and locating the vessel in distress; preparing both vessels; managing abandonment and approach; transferring the crew; and dealing with post-rescue requirements.
Although few crews had practised a yacht-to-yacht rescue, many credited their broader safety-at-sea training with helping them respond successfully.
Effective communication was another recurring factor. VHF radio, satellite communications, emergency beacons and flares all contributed to successful rescues, while unregistered emergency beacons complicated some operations.
The report also highlights the importance of making decisions promptly, particularly when a yacht is sinking rapidly or its crew must abandon ship.
Most rescues involved transferring sailors by life raft. Bringing two yachts alongside each other, particularly in heavy seas, can present considerable risks, including collision, fouled propellers and crew members falling overboard.
A clearly agreed rescue plan between the two skippers is therefore essential before attempting a transfer.
The study also emphasises that the rescue does not end when everyone is safely aboard. Rescued sailors may require medical attention and emotional support, while the additional people can place significant demands on the rescuing yacht's supplies, equipment and crew.
Golden Globe Race Rescue Provides First-Hand Lessons
Golden Globe Race winner Kirsten Neuschäfer, who rescued fellow competitor Tapio Lehtinen after his yacht Asteria sank during the 2022 race, contributed the report's foreword.
Neuschäfer, who received the CCA's Rod Stephens Seamanship Trophy for the rescue, describes the report as "an eye-opener about situations most people never contemplate."
Drawing on her own experience, she highlights practical details that can make a considerable difference during a rescue, including the difficulty of spotting a life raft against the rising sun and the value of daytime smoke flares.
She also recalls how Lehtinen's lack of spare reading glasses made it more difficult to use his satellite messaging equipment and read flare instructions.
The report includes other well-known offshore rescues, including Jean Le Cam's recovery of Kevin Escoffier during the 2020 Vendée Globe, alongside incidents involving cruising yachts and offshore racing fleets.
The CCA hopes the findings will be incorporated into safety-at-sea training and offshore race preparations.
The full report, Report of the Yacht-to-Yacht Crew Rescue Review Team, was published in October 2026 and is available as a 63-page document through the Cruising Club of America.
For more coverage, see Afloat's Cruising and Golden Globe Race sections, including its report on Neuschäfer's CCA Blue Water Medal.
