A rower competing in the World’s Toughest Row Race was rescued after his boat capsized in the Atlantic Ocean, according to the United States Coast Guard. The incident involved 47-year-old Benoit Bourguet, a Belgian citizen, who had been in distress for approximately 24 hours before being located and rescued.
Bourguet was rowing a single-man vessel named the City of Liverpool, part of a grueling race spanning 3,000 miles from Spain to Antigua. He reported that his boat was overturned by two rogue waves, prompting him to deploy a life raft. At the time of the incident, Bourguet was approximately 1,275 miles east of Puerto Rico.
Coast Guard Response and Rescue Operation
The Coast Guard Sector San Juan Command Center received two emergency distress alerts on the night of the incident. The first alert came from the City of Liverpool around 2 a.m., followed by a second alert from a personal beacon device in the same area. Upon receiving these alerts, the Coast Guard identified Bourguet’s vessel as part of the race and contacted the race organizers. They reported that Bourguet had not responded to several messages.
A tanker named the Horten, en route from Germany to Guyana, was about 110 miles away from the distress signal’s location. The Coast Guard issued an Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue callout, which is a standard procedure used globally for assisting individuals in distress at sea. The Horten promptly altered its course to assist in the rescue.
It took more than 12 hours for the Horten to reach Bourguet’s location. Throughout this time, Coast Guard officers maintained communication with the ship’s crew. Upon arrival, the tanker crew spotted Bourguet’s life raft and successfully used a life ring to bring him aboard.
Health Condition and Safety Reminders
The Coast Guard reported that Bourguet was dehydrated but otherwise in good health following his ordeal. The crew of the Horten, along with race coordinators, arranged for Bourguet to be transferred from the tanker to safety at a later time. Fortunately, no other vessels participating in the World’s Toughest Row Race have been reported as being in distress.
This incident underscores the critical importance of having a functional personal distress beacon that is properly registered with nautical authorities. Zodiac Maritime, the managing company of the Horten, expressed pride in their crew’s professionalism and effective coordination with the Coast Guard, stating that their efforts were instrumental in saving a life.
The successful rescue operation highlights the collaborative efforts of maritime agencies and the significance of preparedness in extreme circumstances.
