All 'by the book', but sailor has narrow escape

by Nancy Knudsen on 21 Jul 2010 She thought that she had done everything right - and she had.

She was wearing a life jacket and harness, and was well tethered. But a freak incident still had a British sailor in danger of drowning this week, as she trod water for two hours 50 miles off Land's End after going overboard.

Prudence Nash, a yacht broker from Hamble, was sailing on yacht Buccaneer which was returning from a regatta in Cork, Cork Week. It was dark, the winds were Force 6 (21-26 knots) and the seas 3-4 metres when Nash was washed through a guard rail, about 50 miles north west of Land's End.

Her gear then caught on 'part of the underside of the vessel', keeping her underwater. Fearing imminent drowning, she struggled free of the jacket, and began to tread water.

Falmouth Coastguard was alerted to the incident at about 0100 BST on Sunday and launched a rescue helicopter and two lifeboats in the early hours of the morning. Volunteer lifeboat crews from Sennen Cove and St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, were launched and headed for the scene.

Sailing 'in company':
However, just before the lifeboats arrived, the extremely fortunate sailor was located by another yacht, also sailing back from Cork Week.

She was then picked up by an RAF rescue helicopter from RMB Chivenor and flown to hospital. She was described as 'uninjured' in the incident.

Ms Nash told reporters later: 'They couldn't believe that they found me still fit and well after two hours. I really didn't think I was going to make it. It was terrifying.

'It sounds really girlie and really silly, but I had a moment of talking myself into just keeping on paddling - your arms get really tired and your legs really cold, but I said: 'Keep on paddling and they will come', and they did.'

Henry Purbrick, of Falmouth Coastguard, said cold sea water and heavy conditions usually proved fatal if anyone fell in. 'A lot of people who go in the water tend to die very quickly. The shock is enough to kill people, so the fact she survived says a lot for her skill.'

Sail-World comment: ...and courage and level-headedness we think. The only lesson that could be taken from this incident is that one should try to choose the shorter scope on the tether whenever possible.