The boaters shared a thank-you message from boaters to the MRCC Gris-Nez (CROSS) and the MRCC Lisbon team, including MRCC Ponta Delgata, who were alerted by the FMCC and the Cospas-Sarsat System:
“A huge thank-you to CROSS [MRCC Gris-Nez] and to all the MRCC Lisbon staff for their efficiency and swift reaction”.
The French racing sailboat had participated a few weeks ago in the 2019 Transat Jacques Vabre Race, and on the morning of 18 December was dismasted south-west of the Azores in severe weather conditions with heavy seas and wind of 35 to 40 knots from the west.
They set off their 406 EPIRB and the MRCC Lisbon was the SAR point of contact of the FMCC, and the MRCC Ponta Delgada, assisted by MRCC Gris-Nez, led the SAR operation.
Two Portuguese vessels were tasked and as weather improved an airplane spotted the wreck in the afternoon.
That evening, a Portuguese Air Force helicopter was able to reach the two sailors and transported them safe and sound to the Azores.
Read more here:
https://www.facebook.com/class40louisduc/
And see video here:
https://www.facebook.com/PortugueseAirForce/videos/1314803232024880/