Rescue
Earlier this year Raoul Surcouf, Richard Spink and skipper Ben Stoddart set sail over the North Atlantic to Greenland for a five week, 600-mile ski ski traverse of the Greenland ice cap. On board was 20kg of Orbana Healthy Energy Drink meant for consumption during their ice cap traverse, however, the men were unaware what a vital role Orbana would play in the events that unfolded over the next fortnight.
On day eight of their ocean crossing, wind speeds of 45 knots were recorded, at a force 9 gale. A storm was moving across the Atlantic at an alarming rate, and by mid morning on the 30th April the wind was gusting to force 11 and at a steady 55 knots. The roller coaster ride inside the boat had been persisting for a while, and any attempt to stand up was to invite being hurled around and risk injury. Team member Richard Spink became seriously hindered by sea sickness, and his frequent vomiting sapped his strength and brought on dehydration. Eating was impossible and the only thing to drink was the Orbana that had been ready mixed in 2 litre bottles. This kept the men rehydrated through bouts of vomiting as the wind speed increased to hurricane force 12, and wave heights exceeded well over 40 feet high.
What occurred next was what the team described as, “36 hours of hell.” Winds gusted to over 70 knots and the boat capsized three times in mountainous seas. The most severe of these turned the boat 180degrees under the water; this took out all navigation instruments and damaged the mast. At this point it was decided to call the Falmouth coastguard for help and luckily, the oil tanker 'Overseas Yellowstone' was in the area and could be with them in a few hours.
Spink and Surcouf were the first to leave the yacht as she floundered alongside the huge tanker. A wet rope ladder was the only method of climbing aboard to safety, some 40 vertical feet. Spink with vast climbing experience and fuelled by Orbana healthy energy, jumped across and clung to the swinging ladder he was safely onboard within minutes. Surcouf was next up and was hauled over the rail of the ship by its well-briefed crew. Stoddart who had the emotional task of being last to leave his vessel slowly ascended the ladder. During his ascent, he was unable to hang on and fell back into the sea. He was lucky to avoid falling onto his boat, which could have been fatal. The crew of the tanker had a rope to him in minutes and fortunately he was hauled on board to safety. All three crew members were repatriated to the UK with only minor injuries.
‘We were very lucky” remarked Surcouf. “I think when it comes to thanking sponsors we owe a huge thanks to Orbana Healthy Energy Drink. Rich and I had been drinking it during the worst of the storm, it no doubt helped us make that climb up to the tanker in those terrible conditions.”
The team are now back in the UK and planning the next chapter. They hope to achieve their goal of sailing to Greenland and Skiing the ice cap in the next 12 months. To read more about Carbon Neutral's treacherous North Atlantic rescue, go to: http://www.thepoles.com/
To read more about the nutrient content in Orbana that helped save them, go to: http://www.orbana.com/
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
