Finnish solo rower Jari Saario has been rescued in the South Atlantic after severe flooding and equipment failure on his vessel. Saario said water “started pouring into the cabin at high speed” and that his batteries “got wet and caught fire”. Critical gear was lost, he added.
Before the incident, Saario shared details of his custom rowing boat, Clayton. At 7.3 metres long, the fibreglass craft weighed about 600kg when fully loaded.
As Marine Industry News reports, the sequence began when he entered the aft cabin to check a faulty rudder. A wave struck as he moved, tipping the boat onto its roof. He said he escaped the cabin quickly, but water rushed in. Turning the vessel upright became difficult and prolonged.
“As a result, the batteries got wet and caught fire,” Saario said in an Instagram post. Water filled the cabins, making the boat feel unstable.
A bag containing his dry suit floated out of a hatch and was lost at sea. With no electricity and equipment gone, Saario said he had no option but to send a distress call.
The night before the incident was rough, with winds gusting up to 26m/s and large seas. Saario lost equipment but hoped for a wind shift. He had planned to row from Cape Horn, Chile, to Cape Town, South Africa. That journey ended when he abandoned Clayton and was picked up about 3,000km southwest of South Africa.
He issued the distress call on Friday evening and was found by the merchant vessel Cymona Eagle on Saturday morning. Saario posted from the ship, apologising to family and supporters.
Finnish media report he described the ordeal and rescue as “completely incomprehensible” but said he was in good condition and grateful for support. The Cymona Eagle is expected to reach Cape Town on 16 January.
Saario, a former firefighter, has completed other solo Atlantic crossings, including from the Canary Islands to Antigua and from Canada to Germany.
Responsibility for the rescue lay with the South African Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, with Finland monitoring. The Cymona Eagle diverted after receiving the distress signal. The delay in rescue was due to the remote location and harsh conditions.
