COASTGUARDS ASSIST ATLANTIC ROWERS

Falmouth Coastguard are assisting the Azores Coastguard with the search and rescue of two Swedish nationals aboard the rowing boat ‘2 Friends’; which is taking part in the  Woodvale Trans-Atlantic challenge from the Canary Islands to Barbados.

Falmouth Coastguard received notification from the organisers Woodvale at , that the rowing boat ‘2 Friends’ was experiencing difficulties and had lost both oars. The boat is 1,100 nautical miles south west of the Azores.

Terry Collins, Watch Manager, Falmouth Coastguard, says:

 “We understand that one of the rowers was washed overboard but is now back in the boat. The weather conditions on scene are 20 – 35 knots from the east with large seas. We have made contact with the rowers and through a broadcast to shipping a merchant container vessel ‘Maj Danielsen’ is making its way to the rowers, the vessel’s expected time of arrival is approximately 6am tomorrow morning (UK time).  Regular communications is being maintained with the rowers via satellite phone and the rowing boat has two 406 Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) on board, one of which has been activated to allow an accurate position update.”

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