'Wild Eyes is the central dot in this chart. She drifted into Australian Maritime jurisdiction and therefore the rescue became Australia’s responsibility.'
Fuente info Sail-World
Abby Sunderland on board rescue vessel
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has confirmed the safe rescue of Abby Sunderland from her Open 40 yacht, Wild Eyes. It is presumed that the yacht has been abandoned in the Southern Ocean, as there is no mention of her in the media release.
It is clear that the Australian rescue authority wishes to get the teenage sailor onto terra firma with as little disruption to commercial shipping activities as possible. There fore it is not known if she will be dropped on the nearest island or an Australian port. She is on the western perimeter of Ausralian maritime jurisdiction.
The report from the Maritime Safety Authority is as follows.
The rescue of 16 year old US solo sailor, Abby Sunderland, from the yacht Wild Eyes to the fishing vessel Ile De La Reunion was successfully conducted at 7:45pm AEST today - approximately 2000 nautical miles off the West Australian coast.
The rescue, coordinated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Rescue Coordination Centre – Australia (RCC Australia), was conducted with the support of a Global Express aircraft which provided top cover during the transfer and served as a communications relay between Wild Eyes and the Ile De La Reunion. The crew of the Ile De La Reunion conducted the rescue with a boat launched from the fishing vessel.
RCC Australia has notified Ms Sunderland’s family of the successful rescue. Arrangements to land Ms Sunderland will now be negotiated with the three ships that have responded to the distress situation.
International Maritime Organization guidelines indicate that such arrangements should avoid disruption to commercial shipping as far as possible. Since the fishing vessel would suffer a significant commercial penalty from leaving the fishing grounds, it is possible that Ms Sunderland will be transferred to one of the other two ships. One ship is bound for Australia and the other would likely return to its home port at La Reunion.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority wishes to acknowledge the cooperation of operators and authorities, both national and international, that have worked together to successfully conduct this rescue - these include Maritime RCC La Reunion, Qantas, WA Police, Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia, Defence and the three ships which are responding.
The Master of the Ile De La Reunion has reported Ms Sunderland is safe and in good health.
by Sail-World and AMSA Media
