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.
— 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.
