PRB dismasts

Just seven miles from Cape Horn. Chilean naval vessel en route

At 1920 GMT, only a matter of an hour and 20 minutes after passing Cape Horn, Vincent Riou called his team to report that PRB has dismasted.

When the call was made, PRB was in a position approximately 55°S 65°59W, about 7.8 miles to the northwest of the Cape Horn light. Both Riou and Le Cam are safe and well.

Riou called back to his team about an hour later, saying that he did not want to issue a Mayday, but was trying to locate a suitable vessel to tow them, perhaps through the contacts of Isabelle Autissier. He had been on the phone to Isabelle discussing their planned rendez-vous tomorrow shortly before the mast collapsed. They believe that the temporary lashing they had made to stablise the rig after the end of the deck spreader was broken during le Cam's rescue, had given way.

They had around 25 knots of northwesterly wind when the rig came down and have a
limited chance of setting a jury rig while they are in the islands. Riou and le Cam acted quickly to cut away the rigging and the broken mast.

Since then PRB has been drifting at 1.5 knots on a course of about 25°, away from the islands.

While a Mayday was not issue, a PanPan was, a simple request to any available assistance. The 32.7m general purpose vessel Alacalufe belonging to the Chilean Navy has been dispatched from Port Williams, 55 miles away. Making around 20 knots it is due to reach PRB around 0200hrs GMT..