Please select your home edition
Edition
upffront 2024 October sale Leaderboard

ARC 2021: Yacht Charlotte Jane III abandoned after catastrophic steering failure

by World Cruising Club 1 Dec 2021 22:12 UTC 1 December 2021
ARC Rally © James Mitchell

The five-man British crew of Charlotte Jane III were evacuated onto another ARC yacht today (01 December) after a catastrophic steering failure left the vessel disabled.

Skipper Paul Hutley had raised concerns during the night of 30/11 > 01/12 after the yacht's starboard side steering on the twin-wheel Hanse 588 broke. The mechanical linkage failed, and the steering quadrant came adrift from the baseplate shearing the fixing screws. With difficulty steering in the weather and sea conditions overnight, the crew deployed a drogue to slow the yacht down and stabilise their position. ARC yacht Polygala stood-by over-night to assist if needed.

Around 09:00UTC today, a MAYDAY was called by Skipper Paul, when the port steering control also failed, causing damage to the emergency steering, and leaving the yacht unable to steer. Winds were reported as gusting Force 7 with swells around 4m.

ARC yachts Magic Dragon, JK Sail and Polygala were on station to assist, and due to the local conditions, it was agreed to transfer the crew members from Charlotte Jane III over to Magic Dragon, using the former's liferaft. The transfer of the five crew to Magic Dragon was successfully completed by 11:30UTC. All five crew are now on Magic Dragon for passage to Saint Lucia.

JK Sail's attempt to transfer extra water to Magic Dragon was abandoned due to the prevailing weather conditions in the area at the time.

Polygala stood by overnight and throughout the transfer process.

The position at time of abandonment was: 17 49.26N 036 12.24W at 11:30UTC 01 Dec 2021

The Charlotte Jane III continues to be tracked via the on-board YB tracker with positions relayed to other ARC yachts in the area and to MRCC Ponta Delgada, the controlling SAR station.

World Cruising Club would like to thank the crews of all the yachts involved in the safe evacuation of the crew of Charlotte Jane III.

Related Articles

World ARC - The idyllic Waters of Cocos Keeling
After a 3 to 4-day sail from Christmas Island the fleet arrived at a very different set of islands Following a 3 to 4-day sail from Christmas Island the fleet arrived at a very different set of islands, Cocos Keeling. Posted on 8 Oct
World ARC 2024-25 - Thank you & Farewell Australia
The start of World ARC 2024-25 Leg 9 from northern Australia to Indonesia Tuesday 10 September, saw the start of World ARC 2024-25 Leg 9 - northern Australia to Indonesia. Posted on 10 Sep
40 years of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers
Over 8,000 boats and 40,000 sailors will have sailed the Atlantic when the 2025 rally concludes 2025 marks the 40th edition of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC), which has crossed the Atlantic from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to the Caribbean every year since 1986. Posted on 16 Jul
World ARC arrives in Fiji
22 boats arrived in Lomaloma over the course of three days This year, 22 boats in the World ARC Rally fleet staggered their departures from Tonga and arrived in Fiji over the course of three days. Posted on 16 Jun
ARC Europe 2024 Leg 3 start in Ponta Delgada
Taking them from the Azores to Lagos It was start day today for ARC Europe 2024 in Ponta Delgada. This is the third and final leg for the rally which will take them from the Azores to Lagos in southern Portugal covering a route of 875 NM. Posted on 15 Jun
ARC Europe prizegiving in Ponta Delgada
The Multihulls division was won by the super sleek Outremer 51, Moxie It was Prizegiving night for the ARC Europe fleet in Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel. Posted on 13 Jun
Stop press: ARC and ARC+ spaces available
A small number of additional spaces available in both the ARC and ARC+ rallies Due to support from our host marinas in Las Palmas and Mindelo, we are delighted that we now have a small number of additional spaces available in both the ARC and ARC+ rallies. Posted on 6 Jun
World ARC update
Some of the boats are now on their way to Europe while others are laying-up in the Caribbean World ARC 2023-24 finished in fine style in Saint Lucia in April with a parade of sail from Marigot Bay to Rodney Bay and a memorable end-of-rally prize-giving. Posted on 5 Jun
ARC Europe 2024 sails the Atlantic to Europe
32 yachts departed from Bermuda bound for the Azores, then Europe 32 boats are sailing in the 24th edition of ARC Europe, World Cruising Club's west-to-east transatlantic rally from the Caribbean or the US, heading to Europe via Bermuda and the Azores. Posted on 22 May
World ARC 2024-25 - Leg 5 departs Bora Bora
The small South Pacific island of Niue is the next port of call For their next port of call, to the small South Pacific island of Niue, the World ARC fleet divides into two groups. Posted on 16 May
GJW Direct 2024 DinghyHyde Sails 2024 - One DesignPantaenius 2022 - SAIL FOOTER - ROW