Drifting rope aborts Sydneysiders' Pacific crossing

8:08 PM Mon 15 Feb 2010 GMT

'Bristol Rose at anchor - her Australian crew were sailing the boat home to Sydney after 13 years living in the USA' .

It was a drifting rope. A piece of flotsam thrown overboard by a fisherman or the like. But in the heavy swells of the Pacific crossing between Panama and Galapagos in the dark early hours of morning, it spelled disaster for Sydneysiders Robert and Patricia Budd, sailing their way back to Australia. They eventually called a Pan Pan.

The couple, who have spent 13 years living and working in the USA, were sailing their American flagged Shannon 43, Bristol Rose, and participating in the World ARC 2010/11 round the world rally. Their boat had became entangled in the large drifting rope. The immediate effect was loss of propulsion and jammed steering.

They waited until first light, themselves now adrift and travelling north at around 2 knots. Skipper Robert Budd went overboard to inspect the cause. On inspection it became apparent that one of the propeller blades was badly damaged, and the thick rope was jamming the rudder.

The heavy seas made further overboard work dangerous; with light airs, a heavy swell, and a jammed rudder progress under sail was difficult, so they issued a Pan Pan call for assistance.

Under direction from the Coastguard in Panama, the tug Elgia Elena was despatched from Panama to rendezvous with Bristol Rose, now some one hundred miles south west of Panama, and drifting at up to 2 knots. Further assistance was provided by MRCC Falmouth and the US Coastguard, with fellow World ARC participant, Eowyn also involved with communications relays.

At 0620UTC yesterday (Monday 15 February) Bristol Rose reported that they were in contact with the tug; communications were difficult and it had taken some time for the vessels to identify one another, helped by coordination from World Cruising Club Rally Control in La Libertad (Ecuador). They were also helped by the regular position reports from the yacht's Yellowbrick Iridium tracking unit, which were relayed to the tug.

Too rough to attempt to secure a tow in the dark, the tug stood by during the remainder of the night, before connecting the tow in daylight hours, shortly before 1400UTC.

Bristol Rose is now safely under tow heading towards Bahia Pi?a, Darien, Panama, approximately 120 nautical miles away, where they are expected to arrive within the next 24 to 30 hours.

Bristol Rose, having opted out of the rally stage from Panama to Ecuador, were sailing direct from Las Perlas Islands to San Cristobal Island, Galapagos to rejoin the rally.

by Jeremy Wyatt/Sail-World Cruising