Fear at Tre Golfi, the 30m Ark launches Mayday. What happened

On the night of On Friday, May 12, at about 11:30 p.m., Arca SGR, which was in charge of the Tre Golfi Regatta, just after passing the island of Zannone and en route to Ponza, due to as yet unspecified causes, lost control of the canting keel, which brought the maxi into a skidding position at more than 45 degrees. Having launched the “mayday” and landed part of the crew on the life raft, the maxi was promptly reached and rescued by Shockwave 3 Prosecco DOC and the Ponza Coast Guard. The boat was then towed ashore before it sank.

Tre Golfi regatta, Arca SGR launches “mayday”

The crew went below deck to check the situation and found how the maxi in the circumstance was taking on water in substantial amounts. Immediately helmsman Furio Benussi initiated the safety protocol by launching the “mayday.” Shockwave 3 Prosecco DOC, the other Trieste maxi in the race, informed of the alarm and understanding the seriousness of the situation promptly diverted course to reach and render first aid.

Within minutes some of the crew was disembarked onto the life raft. The rest of the team lowered the sails and put the boat in such a condition that the danger of sinking was averted. Arriving shortly afterwards, the Coast Guard patrol boat from Ponza all the crew, except Arca SGR Commander Leo Bragadin, were put ashore on the patrol boat. The boat then was assisted and towed to Ponza, the nearest point for shore docking.

Furio Benussi, helmsman of Arca SGR – “The unpredictable has happened, and the most important thing is that all the crewmen are safe and sound. Thanks to the hard work and great preparedness of the entire crew, in clearly excited and dramatic moments, we avoided injuries and the sinking of Arca SGR. I would like to extend a big thank you to the great sailors of Shockwave 3 Prosecco DOC who were the first to assist us while waiting for the Coast Guard to arrive for the rescue provided in record time. I have nothing more to add at this time; now we will have to figure out the cause of what happened. We have a new challenge ahead of us, which is to work ashore immediately on the serious injuries of our maxi with the goal of returning as soon as possible to racing. It will not be easy and it is a new and unexpected challenge that we never wanted to face but this boat, which already has a special history behind it, is immortal and it is now up to us to give it life and soul once again“.

James Barbaro