It's just over a month since Gregor McGuckin was forced to 'evacuate' his dismasted Biscay 36, 'Hanley Energy Endurance', and so ending his solo attempt at a non-stop circumnavigation in the Golden Globe Race.
As Afloat.ie readers know, McGuckin is now safely back home on dry land, but what has happened to the abandoned yacht? Well, latest tracking information suggests that it is drifting at a rate of about 1 knot in an ENE direction. At this rate, the earliest landfall would be no sooner than two months away. The drift direction is towards north-west Australia, but the current regime in the Indian Ocean suggests that before it makes landfall it could be carried northwards initially and then westwards. Indeed, if not salvaged or sunk, it might never make landfall as the prevailing currents combine to create an anti-clockwise flow around the Indian Ocean.
While an unmanned, drifting vessel is clearly a hazard to other vessels, this part of the ocean is sparsely populated.
The Golden Globe race tracker continues to display 'Hanley Energy Endurance’s' current position, here, but it is not certain how this is powered and how long it can be maintained. With no power, and a low radar profile, the yacht becomes harder to detect and will be a danger, particularly at night time, so it will be interesting to learn of salvage plans if any?
