Between Sunday, Jan. 15 and Monday, Jan. 16, several Spanish rescue units were engaged off Gran Canaria to rescue a crew member of Poppy, a Pogo 30, who became entangled in rigging and hung up in the mast. Nothing to do for the victim, a French sailor. The man, who had hit his head, hung on the mast for 19 hours before rescuers were able to take control of the boat and recover the body.
What happened
While one of Poppy’s two crew members found himself caught on the end of the mast upside down under sail, the other reportedly raised the alarm at about 8 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 15, according to Spanish authorities. Several attempts were made by SASEMAR (Spanish maritime rescue and safety organization) to intervene. In the night, rescuers, after managing to evacuate the second crew member (survivor) by helicopter, tried several times to board the Pogo 30, without succeeding. It was not until Monday at 3 p.m. that divers, who arrived with the third rescue boat, were able to take control of the drifting Pogo and recover the victim’s body that had fallen onto the deck.
How to climb the mast safely
Although the exact circumstances of the accident are not yet entirely clear, it is good to remember that it is absolutely inadvisable to climb the mast of a boat while it is sailing, especially at night and in rough seas. In this article from a few years ago, all the advice, still valid, for those who should climb the masthead.
James Barbaro
