Golden Globe race competitors Gregor McGuckin and Abhilash Tomy who abandoned their yachts yesterday are reported as "well" and have been taken by their international rescue team to a remote island in the Southern Indian Ocean for medical assessment.

'They will be medically assessed before any decisions are made', the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said in a statement.

In a show of great seamanship yesterday – as shown in these aerial photos taken by the rescuers – 32-year-old Irishman McGuckin, managed to build a jury rig and hand steer his dismasted yacht Hanley Energy Endurance for the past four days to within 30 miles of a fellow competitor in order to be on site to assist with the rescue of Indian Sailor Abhilash Tomy.

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— Rajat Pandit (@rajatpTOI) September 24, 2018

As Afloat.ie reported yesterday, McGuckin did not declare an emergency for his own situation despite being rolled over and losing his mast. However, given the extremely remote location and the condition of his yacht, it was deemed the appropriate course of action to abandon his yacht under a controlled evacuation scenario as the opportunity arose. The considered move ensures in the event that his own situation deteriorated in any attempt to reach land in the coming weeks a second rescue mission would not be required.

Gregor McGuckin making his way – at just 2 knots under jury rig – to rescue his fellow stricken Golden Globe competitor Photo: Australian Maritime Safety Authority

There is no official word yet on the status of the abandoned boats now adrift but in all likelihood, both will be scuttled.

Team Ireland, the organisation behind Gregor McGuckin's Golden Globe entry has issued a statement to confirm Gregor McGuckin and fellow competitor Abhilash Tomy are now onboard the French fisheries patrol vessel Osiris.

The vessel initially rescued Indian sailor Abhilash Tomy who is reported to be conscious and talking. The vessel then sailed approximately 30 miles to safely evacuate Gregor McGuckin. McGuckin's condition is good and has reported nothing more than bumps and bruises.

In an incredible show of seamanship, the 32-year-old Irishman managed to build a jury rig and hand steer his yacht Hanley Energy Endurance for the past four days to within 30 miles of his fellow competitor in order to be on site to assist with the rescue if required.

the 32-year-old Irishman managed to build a jury rig and hand steer his yacht Hanley Energy Endurance for the past four days

McGuckin did not declare an emergency for his own situation despite being rolled over and losing his mast. However, given the extremely remote location and the condition of his yacht, it was deemed the appropriate course of action to abandon his yacht under a controlled evacuation scenario as the opportunity arose. The considered move ensures in the event that his own situation deteriorated in any attempt to reach land in the coming weeks a second rescue mission would not be required.

Gregor McGuckin’s Team, friends and family would like to express their sincere gratitude to all involved in the operation so far. Our thoughts are now with Abhilash and his family.

Day 4 of the rescue of injured Indian Golden Globe Race solo sailor Abhilash Tomy from his dismasted yacht Thuriya approximately 1,900 miles SW of Perth Western Australia writes Barry Pickthall.

The French fisheries patrol vessel Osiris reached Tomy’s yacht at 05:30 UTC today and Australian and Indian long range P8 Orion reconnaissance aircraft are circling overhead. Thuriya’s position is 39 32.79S and 78 3.29E

Weather conditions are favourable: 15-20knots from the South West, 2m swells and good visibility. A radio briefing was held between the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre on Reunion Island, a doctor located on Amsterdam Island, and the master of the Osiris before the French crew boarded Thuriya from Zodiac inflatable boats to administer immediate first-aid and assess his condition.

Dismasted yacht Thuriya

"McGuckin is not in distress but has asked for a controlled evacuation from his yacht"

Abhilash Tomy, 39, is a Commander in the Indian Navy and has been confined to his bunk, unable to move since his yacht was rolled through 360° and dismasted in a vicious Southern Ocean storm last Friday.

Fellow GGR skipper, Dubliner Gregor McGuckin whose yacht Hanley Energy Endurance was also dismasted in the same storm last week, is making 2.2 knots towards Thuriya’s position, sailing under jury rig. The 32-year old Irishman is still 25 miles to the West and in radio contact with the reconnaissance aircraft. He is not in distress but has asked for a controlled evacuation from his yacht.

Faced with a 1,900 mile sail across the Southern Ocean to Western Australia under a small jury rig and without an engine (his fuel was contaminated when the yacht capsized), this is a responsible decision taken by a professional sailor when all the rescue assets are close by. The alternative would have been to continue sailing singlehanded without the aid of self-steering (also smashed in the capsize) and risk having to call on the Rescue Services again should he be disabled further in another storm.

Once the two solo yachtsmen are safely aboard the Osiris the French fisheries patrol ship will proceed to Amsterdam Island where the rescued sailors will be given a full medical examination. The hospital on Amsterdam Island is well equipped with X-ray and ultrasound equipment.

Race organisers continue to work closely with The Australian Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre and are extremely grateful for the efforts being made by all involved.

Golden Globe Race solo sailor Abhilash Tomy has been rescued after his yacht dismasted in a violent Southern Ocean Storm on Friday (21 September).

French fisheries patrol vessel Osiris reached Tomy’s yacht Thuriya at 05:30 UTC today (Monday 24 September) in favourable conditions, with 15-20 knots from the south-west, two-metre swells and good visibility.

After liaising with a doctor, the French crew boarded Thuriya to administer immediate first-aid and assess his condition.

Tomy (39), a commander in the Indian navy, has been confined to his bunk and unable to move since his yacht was rolled through 360° and dismasted in a vicious storm last Friday. It’s understood that he has sustained a serious back injury.

Fellow Golden Globe skipper Gregor McGuckin, whose yacht Hanley Energy Endurance was also dismasted in the same storm last week, was making 2.2 knots towards Thuriya’s position as of this morning, sailing under jury rig, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

The 32-year old Irishman is still 25 miles to the west and in radio contact with the reconnaissance aircraft. He is not in distress but has asked for a controlled evacuation from his yacht — a decision described by Golden Globe Race officials as “responsible”.

Once the two solo yachtsmen are safely aboard the Osiris, the French fisheries patrol ship will proceed to Amsterdam Island, where the rescued sailors will be given a full medical examination.

In rough post-storm conditions in the southern Indian Ocean, Irish sailor Gregor McGuckin is heroically attempting to reach seriously-injured fellow competitor Abilash Tomy of India in the dismasted Thuriya 90 miles away, despite McGuckin’s own boat Hanley Energy Endurance sustaining a dismasting in the same storm on Friday writes W M Nixon.

An international rescue operation is now underway through several navies and international agencies. But as the stricken boats are nearly 1900 miles from the nearest land in southwest Australia, they are about as inaccessible as possible. However, a French Fisheries patrol vessel with full medical facilities may be the best hope, but she is still at some distance and McGuckin may find himself first at the scene if he gets there tomorrow under a mixture of emergency jury rig and engine power.

"Gregor McGuckin is heroically attempting to reach seriously-injured fellow competitor Abilash Tomy"

The wind is forecast to ease, though an enormous and very confused sea will continue to run. But every second counts, as Tomy – an officer in the Indian Navy who became the first Indian to sail solo round the world in 2013 - has sustained such a serious back injury that he is confined to his bunk and unable to reach any source of fresh water, while many of his communication systems have been disabled.

Barry Pickthall of the Golden Globe Race organisation adds: Overnight Saturday, an Indian P8 Orion military plane out of Mauritius overflew Thuriya to assess the yacht’s condition. Photographs taken by the crew show the yacht dismasted with her rig still attached to the hull acting as a sea anchor, and slowing her drift westwards.

Abhilash Tomy, who has reported severe back injuries, is unable to move from his bunk, but heard the plane fly overhead and acknowledged this by turning his emergency beacon off and on.

Two further planes, one outbound from Perth, and an Australian Defence Force P8 Orion operating from Reunion Island also overflew the two yachts a few hours later and managed to communicate directly with McGuckin. JMRCC in Canberra, which is organising this multinational rescue with Indian and French authorities, can now position aircraft overhead during any rescue operations on the water.

The Australian authorities have also despatched the Anzac class frigate HMAS Ballerat from Fremantle overnight. She is due to reach the area around 23:00UTC on Sept 27. The Indian Navy has also diverted the frigate INS Satpura, and tanker INS Jyoti Mission from exercises off South Africa to assist in the rescue.

A spokesman for the Atlantic Youth Trust who have a role in co-ordinating McGuckin's campaign said at  3 pm:  'Please be advised that communications will be limited during the current situation. We can report Gregor is safe and making his way towards Abhilash Tomy's position. We are in regular contact with Gregor and the race management and Gregor is speaking to the rescue coordination body. Our priority is the safety of the two skippers and we will issue a statement in due course'

Irishman Gregor McGuckin’s yacht has just been dramatically rolled 360 degrees in the middle of the Indian Ocean during an extreme storm. The violent roll broke his main mast and will now force him out of the solo round the world race he is competing in.

The 32-year-old from Dublin set sail on 1 July 2018 from Les Sables d’Olonne in France in an attempt to sail non-stop around the world. On his 82nd day at sea and in an extremely calm and professional manner, McGuckin called the race office to report “I’ve got rolled the main mast is gone.” Rolled means a wave rolled the boat 360 degrees putting the mast vertically into the water and when the boat returned upright the mast was broken. 

As Afloat.ie reported just a few hours earlier, McGuckin was ‘knocked down’ meaning the boat was knocked on its side and in the process he broke the Mizzen mast on his boat, the smaller of the two masts.

At the time McGuckin was sailing “Downwind on bare poles with warps out the back,” meaning he had no sails up and was trailing ropes in an attempt to keep the boat moving in the direction of the waves.

When asked how the terrifying incident occurred McGuckin said, “The sea is just savage. I was going down a swell and a monster (wave) came in from the other side, there was nothing I could have done. I was lying on the roof but it came back up. I’m a bit bruised but ok.” He estimated “The gusts must have been 70 knots.”

McGuckin is now the second competitor in the Golden Globe Race to be rolled over. Many others have been forced to retire due to gear failure and personal reasons.

Speaking about his extremely remote location in the middle of the Indian Ocean McGuckin said, “Typical, I’m at the furthest point from land in the Indian Ocean.” The lone skipper has a number of options. Firstly, he could call on a fellow competitor to pick him up and abandon his own boat. Secondly, he could ask to be rescued by a passing ship. And finally, he could build a jury rig and sail the 2,000 miles to Australia which could take up to 50 days. When asked what he will do next, McGuckin said, “I will sleep on it for now.”

Tracker here 

In the latest update from the race (2000hrs) dismasted McGuckin may be required to lend a hand to a fellow stricken competitor here.

Irish Golden Globe Race entrant Gregor McGuckin has lost his mizzen mast during a knockdown in the Indian Ocean. The 32-year-old is currently battling 70 knot (130 kph) winds and over 10m seas as a very severe storm passes over him. UPDATED (1530hrs): McGuckin Rolled & Out of Race

"While a major setback, losing a mizzen mast will not force McGuckin to retire"

Now 81 days into this approximate 250-day non-stop race around the planet, McGuckin will have to complete the voyage without a mizzen mast. The mizzen mast is the smaller of the two masts on his Biscay 36 yacht ‘Hanley Energy Endurance’. While a major setback, losing a mizzen mast will not force McGuckin to retire. The main disadvantage he faces is that in the event of losing his self-steering system it will make balancing the boat to hold a steady course very challenging.

More details below when McGuckin called the race office for his weekly safety call this morning.

Every Friday morning at 10.00 UTC, Ireland’s solo circumnavigator  Gregor McGuckin calls the Golden Globe Race organisers from his yacht Hanley Energy Endurance to check in. After last weeks call reporting 50+ knot winds and 10m seas, today's call was a much calmer affair as McGuckin enters the Indian Ocean in 3rd place.

The past seven days have seen conditions improve allowing McGuckin to get some essential maintenance and repairs done. When asked about progress, he said, “Not fast progress, quite a lot of calms, light winds. It has been frustrating at times, you expect when you get down here you’ll be moving a lot quicker but it has actually been the opposite.” And reporting on the condition of the boat he said, “The boat is fine, I’ve had loads of time to fix everything.”

His low key no drama nature hasn't gone unnoticed. The race’s chairman and founder Don MacIntyre wrote, "Gregor is pure youthful determination from an Irish guy going places. Bring it on then give him more." The youthful nature is in the context that the current race leader Jean-Luc Van Den Heede is 73 years old, he once raced against Enda O’Coineen in 1979. Don also reported that Gregor, “Has a fire in his belly with a lot at stake and plenty to prove. He is working hard. His boat is good but there are a few little issues to contend with and he does that well. He is comfortable in his world having fun and wants more!”

McGuckin’s calm, understated very ‘Irish’ nature and humour see's him consistently shrug off the lows and take the highs in his stride. This is in line with the steady calm nature and consistent energy use the French solo superstars aim for. He concluded by saying, “So long as it stays windy I’ll be grand.”

Irish solo sailor Gregor McGuckin will be celebrating today onboard his 36ft yacht Hanley Energy Endurance as he passes the Cape of Good Hope on the southernmost tip of Africa.

McGuckin now lying in 3rd place is now entering his 60th day alone at sea. He is competing in the Golden Globe Race. The race rules mean Gregor is not using GPS and therefore will struggle to record the exact time he passes the longitude that marks the Cape. The next of the Great Capes is Leeuwin, followed by the infamous Cape Horn.

The fleet has been battered by Southern Ocean storms over the past week. Just two days ago McGuckin’s closest competitor, Norwegian Are Wiig, was rolled 360 degrees by a 10-metre breaking wave. The capsize broke his mast and damaged his hull. He is now under jury rig and is heading for Cape Town.

Speaking about McGuckin’s progress, Campaign Manager Neil O’Hagan, said: “Some early decisions in the preparation stage are really paying off now for Gregor. The boat, the self-steering system, and the heavy weather preparations are being put to the test and thankfully standing up to it. It’s very sobering to see a competitor being rolled 360 in his yacht. This is not normal even in the worst storms that we are familiar with. It just shows exactly how bad the conditions are down there.”

McGuckin now faces a treacherous Indian Ocean Crossing, then a long leg across the Pacific before diving south the round Cape Horn. His ETA back in France is March 2019.

Golden Globe Race skipper Are Wiig made a satellite phone call to Race HQ at 16:30 UTC today to report that his 32ft yacht Olleanna had been rolled through 360° and dismasted some 400 miles south west of Cape Town. His nearest competitor is Ireland's Gregor McGuckin who is standing by to lend assistance if required.

The 58-year old yacht surveyor from Svelvik, Norway is one of 12 sailors competing in this solo non-stop race around the Globe and was below decks at the time with the yacht lying hove-to in 35-45knot winds and 7-8m seas. One cabin porthole was lost, but Are reported that he was not injured and there was no damage to the hull. He quickly cut the mast and rig away from the hull but left the forestay and it is currently hanging from the bow of the boat in the water with the sail attached acting as a sea anchor

Don McIntyre the GGR Race Chairman who answered the call from Wiig reports “Are sounded confident and very much in control. His windvane self-steering system had broken, and before going below, he had been hand-steering for seven hours. Down below is a mess, but he plans to tidy up and monitor the situation and then develop a plan. He has everything onboard to make a jury rig. Are confirmed that he had NOT activated his EPIRB and did NOT require any assistance at this time. All his safety equipment is secure and in good order. His satellite communications are working well and he has full electrical power.”

The nearest yacht to Are Wiig's position is Gregor McGuckin's Biscay 36 Hanley Energy Endurance, but the Norwegian has not asked for assistance at this stage.

Race HQ in Les Sables d’O’lonne is monitoring the situation and alerted rescue authorities in Cape Town and the fleet of race yachts. The nearest competitor to Are Wiig is Ireland’s Gregor McGuckin sailing the Biscay 36 Hanley Energy Endurance, some 40 miles north east of Wiig’s position, but he too is facing the same strong westerly winds, reporting earlier today: 3RD NIGHT OF GALES. NO SAIL. TOWING WARPS. ALL WELL, JUST TIRED.

McIntyre continued: “We have alerted the GGR fleet but since Are has not asked for assistance at this stage we have not called on any yachts to divert from their course.”

Last night, Wiig, who had been lying 4th overall before the dismasting, called Race HQ a second time to confirm that the situation onboard was stable. He was preparing to plug the broken porthole and was committed to set up a jury rig as soon as conditions allow and head slowly for Cape Town.