PHOTOGALLERY Save! Panic hours at the Giraglia
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Among the boats rescued in this memorable edition of the Giraglia Rolex Cup, there was Alberto Pagliano’s Comet 45S Ireal: on board had a really bad time, especially when they found themselves at the mercy of the wind and waves, with a broken rudder, receiving no response from rescue and the organization, and with some crew members knocked out. Let’s read the detailed account that Alberto wrote for us, but first let’s exclusively show you the photo-report of the helicopter rescue.
IREAL RESCUE PHOTOS
SAVED! THE SHIPOWNER’S TALE
“We shot the Giraglia between 7:30 and 8 pm. Just after the Giraglia rock we found a wave of about a couple of meters, with a west-southwest wind of about 20/25 knots of intensity. The entire crew was equipped with seat belts. After about an hour to an hour and a half, the wind increased with gusts up to 30 35 knots and consequently the waves got up quite a bit. They were very very high waves. At midnight I took the helm holding a 340/345 course with gusts up to 42 knots. On shift there were 6 of us, while the 5 shift dismounted rested below deck.
PANIC STRIKES
Around 2:30 a.m., about 36 miles from Genoa, descending from a very large wave, in the hollow of the wave I felt a very strong blow, and a moment later I completely lost my rudder. I alerted the crew, we jumped on the stoppers to lower the mainsail (we had two hands of reefers) and the jib (number 3, the smaller one, ed.). As we were hauling out, the boat straoriamdo changed tack and then a wave brought us back to the poggia. The boom passed over the cockpit tearing the starboard rudder column. A few minutes of agitation followed because we did not know if there were any water ways.
AN UNBEARABLE ROLL
Assured that we had suffered no further damage, we reassured ourselves: we immediately reported our location with a securité on channel 16 to alert us of our position. Meanwhile, the boat had paralleled the waves resulting in a strong roll. Some waves were breaking on deck, creating a loud rumble below deck. Four of us stayed on top, the others went down. In spite of everything, there was no infiltration, and we felt that we were in a barrel.
“WE CAN’T HELP YOU”
As soon as the boat was secured, we started calling the Race Committee on channel 72 made available to Giraglia participants, without receiving a response. We asked for a radio link but unfortunately no one was responding. After about an hour and a half of drifting we approached the coast: about 30 miles from La Spezia, I was able to call Federico Almerighi of Veladoc, a dear friend of mine for many years who helped me operate the rescue machine. We also called Carlo Simoncelli, our friend aboard the Cookson 50 Cippa Lippa 8 who was already in port in Genoa, and who put us in telephone contact with the Race Committee, putting us through to a young lady who, perhaps given the hour or my agitation, was unable to give us any assistance by replying that she was unable to help, which did not put us in a good mood. At this point we called by phone the Genoa Coast Guard, which had already been alerted by Federico, and the La Spezia Coast Guard, who immediately activated to come to our rescue.
ON BOARD THERE ARE THOSE WHO LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS
In the meantime, some crew members began to feel ill. One crew member was not fully conscious. At this news, the Genoa Harbor Master’s Office sent a helicopter to bring 7 crew members ashore in two trips. Left on board in 4, the Harbor Master tried twice to tow us but, 2/2.5-meter waves and 23/24-knot winds made the operation impossible. Drifting, but still flanked by the CoP, we looked for a way to reach the coast (floating anchors, dunnage tied to the targone, etc…). Around 8 p.m., about 10 to 15 miles from Sestri levante the patrol boat CP 288 from Genoa, with Commander Moro on board, towed us to the buoys in Sestri with great expertise and tenacity battling a residual wave of still a 1.5 to 2 meters.
I WILL NOW GO BY SEA MORE QUIETLY
The next day, Saturday 18, we were towed to Lavagna by Alessandro and Giammarco from Sestri Levante, driving two dinghies. At the conclusion of this experience, I would like to sincerely thank the harbor master’s office in Genoa, the harbor master’s office in La Spezia, and the harbor master’s office in Santa Margherita for all the logistical and moral support provided with great professionalism. Going to sea now, knowing that there are people like them at our support, makes me more relaxed. Heartfelt thanks also to the crew of the Koala Helicopter Rescue from Sarzana.”
MORE:
SENSATIONAL: I LOST THE GIRAGLIA TO SAVE A BOAT
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE “GALE JUGGERNAUT”
ALL THE GIRAGLIA WINNERS
TALES AND STORIES LIVE FROM THE GALE’S GIRAGLIA
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