Telefonica encounter refugee ship

Spanish crews shocked by human tragedy

The Volvo Ocean Race's Team Telefonica boats were yesterday (Wednesday) in the middle of carrying out their qualification passage for the forthcoming round the world race when at 18:15 GMT, they located a small boat 30 miles south of Almeria, at 36.13N 02.44W.

The boat turned out to be full of people, apparently refugees from Africa, several with babies held high to alert the Volvo sailors of their plight. On coming across this, the Telefonica team suspended its training and alerted the local authorities on Channel 16 with a view to facilitating in the rescue of the vessel and its occupants. Following orders from the Spanish rescue authorities, as the sea was calm, the two boats were requested to remain on station, but without dealing with it - to wait until such time as the rescue services arrived. This occurred almost two hours later at 20:10 GMT.

The rescue services released the Telefonica crews at 20:30 who then continued with their qualifcation passages.

It was later established that 15 people on the refugee vessel had died by the time Team Telefonica encountered them The team have expressed profound shock over this terrible human tragedy but are pleased to have helped the authorities locate the vessel and rescue its crew.