Dateline: Les Sables d'Olonne, Friday, 18th of November  2022

Tapio Lehtinen is sailing in the 2022 Golden Globe Race, a solo, non stop adventure, around the world. He departed from Les Sables d’Olonne France on Sept. 4th this year and after passing through the Cape Town film gate, was heading toward Australia in the Southern Ocean.

Today at 0654 UTC, Tapio Lehtinen activated Asteria’s EPIRB, 460 nautical miles SE from Port Elizabeth, in South Africa while sailing in the Golden Globe Race.

Tapio Lehtinen's Gaia 36 ASTERIA Life Raft Position. Picture Credit: Nora Havel / GGR2022

The GGR Crisis management team in Les Sables d’Olonne and Race Founder and President Don McIntyre in Cape Town have been coordinating with the Cape Town MRCC and CROSS Griz-Nez in France.

At 0852 UTC, Tapio also activated his liferaft’s PLB indicating that he may have abandoned ship. The liferaft also has a VHF radio and GPS packed inside. MRCC Cape Town contacted nearby commercial vessels to divert to his position, with the closest ship 250 miles away.

GGR entrants Kirsten Neuschäfer and Abhilash Tomy, respectively 105 and 170 miles to his SSW have been informed of his latest PLB position. Abhilash was first to receive the message and diverted course towards Tapio’s latest position.

At 0922 UTC Tapio activated the emergency YB3 satellite tracking and texting device which is part of the grab bag and at 1002 UTC manually acknowledged the message sent by the GGR Crisis Team. indicating he was able, and had the emergency grab bag with him.

The grab bag contains food, water and several critical pieces of equipment, including an emergency GPS, a Search & Rescue Transponder, a second 406 EPIRB, and a handheld GMDSS Radio.

His last message was for Asteria: at 1105 UTC: "I GAVE ASTERIA A LAST SALUTE STANDING IN THE RAFT AS SHE WENT DOWN” Conditions in Tapio’s zone are manageable with light winds and 2,5-metre swell.

With Kirsten now en route and closest a 100 nm away, the GGR Crisis Team released Abhilash from the rescue effort. Kirsten is motoring and should have favourable winds later, expecting to be in the zone on Saturday 19th November in the morning. Forecasts suggest moderating conditions over the next two days.

Every GGR2022 Entrant has two YB3 Tracking / messaging Units. Picture Credit: Nora Havel / GGR2022

MRCC Cape Town has established communication with the bulk carrier DARYA GAYATRI and requested to divert and render assistance. The vessel is currently 250 nm NW off Tapio’s position with an ETA on November 19 at 1200 UTC.  

“Our thoughts are with Tapio, his family and friends during this challenging time. The South African Maritime Rescue Coordination Center is doing an excellent job of coordinating the rescue efforts. Tapio is an experienced seaman, well prepared for these conditions. We thank everyone for their messages of support for Tapio and those who are right now involved with his rescue.” Don McIntyre GGR Founder. 

TO FOLLOW THE RACE :

• LIVE TRACKER on the GGR website tracker
• Or download the YELLOW BRICK APP on Android or iPhone
• Follow all social media news on the website, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube
• Listen to daily recorded satellite calls on SoundCloud
• Follow the daily entrants tweets on Twitter, Facebook, or the GGR website

Watch out for entrant onboard footage being released on GGR Youtube Here!

2022 GGR entrants to date:

1. Abhilash Tomy (43)  / India / Rustler 36 - " BAYANAT "

2. Arnaud Gaist (50) /  France / BARBICAN 33 MKII  (long keel version) - " HERMES PHONING "

3. Elliott Smith (27) / USA /  Gale Force 34 - " SECOND WIND "

4. Guy Waites (54)  / UK / Tradewind 35 - " SAGARMATHA "

5. Ian Herbert Jones (52) / UK / Tradewind 35 - " PUFFIN " 

6. Jeremy Bagshaw (59) / South Africa / OE32 - " OLLEANNA" 

7. Kirsten Neuschäfer (39) / South Africa / Cape George 36  - " MINNEHAHA"

8. Michael Guggenberger (44) /  Austria  / Biscay 36 - " NURI "

9. Simon Curwen (63) / UK /  Biscay 36  - " CLARA " 

goldengloberace.com

About the 2022 Golden Globe Race

On September 4th, this year, the third edition of the Golden Globe Race will start from Les Sables d'Olonne, France. All Sailors in the race will face eight months of isolation sailing 30,000 miles across five oceans solo non-stop and unassisted. The Golden Globe Race was the original round the world yacht race. In 1968, while man was preparing to take his first steps on the moon, a mild mannered and modest young man was setting out on his own record breaking voyage of discovery. He had entered the original Golden Globe.  Nine men started that first solo non-stop sailing race around the World. Only one finished. He was 29year old Sir Robin Knox Johnston. History was made. Navigating only with a sextant, paper charts and an accurate and reliable time piece, Sir Robin navigated around the world.  In 2018, to celebrate 50 years since that first record breaking achievement, the Golden Globe Race was resurrected. It instantly caught the attention of the world's media as well as adventures, captivated by the spirit and opportunity. Millions followed it. 18 started and only five finished. The original race was back. Once again they used only sextants, paper charts, wind up clocks and cassette tapes for music. The GGR is the longest, loneliest, most daring challenge for any individual in any sport. It is an extreme adventure full of human stories on a journey that takes longer than flying to Mars!