On 7 November 2013 a large breaking wave careered into the side of Clipper Yact, Derry~Londonderry~Doire, en-route to Australia.
Derry~Londonderry~Doire is taking part in Leg 3, Race 4 of the Clipper around the world yacht race.
Sean McCarter said; “I had just drifted off after helping both watches with periods on the helm and awoke to a bag of spanners arriving in my bunk. This is strange as usually they live far away on the other side of the boat. Then it clicked that the boat was heeled over a long way! As quickly as I could, I pulled on my foulies and started making my way on deck past the carnage that is a Clipper 70, shaken all around. Before I reached the companionway, I heard the shout that no skipper wants to hear…’MEDIC’!
I got on deck to see two crew obviously in pain. Unfortunately one was our medic, round the world crew member Susie Redhouse…thus making me the new medic. Hmmm. We quickly got Susie down below with what we feared may be a broken arm. Next was Michelle Porter, our chief of staff and another round the world crew, who swore she was ok but couldn’t move her arm. We eventually got them both down below and out of their lifejackets and dry suits to begin the examination.
Luckily both patients were not as injured as we thought. To be on the safe side, we contacted Praxes, our Emergency Physicians, who advised us to administer pain control, rest for Susie and Michelle for 12hrs (unfortunately not the skipper!), then re-evaluate the situation. Susie’s arm turned out to be a bad bang. Michelle is still in her bunk resting up but being the trooper she is, is insisting she is fine to carry on.”
But on after assessing the situarion it was decided to rather divert to Port Elizabeth to transfer injured crew member, Michelle Porter – a round the world crew member scheduled to sail all eight legs. Although she wanted to continue, everyone concerned agreed that it was the right decision.
Sean McCarter turned the yacht and started the 250 nautical mile journey to Port Elizabeth and an offshore rendezvous with the local NSRI who would transfer Porter to a local hospital.
Ian Gray, NSRI Port Elizabeth station commander, said; “At 21h17 on Friday 8 November, NSRI Port Elizabeth volunteer sea rescue duty crew launched our sea rescue craft SPIRIT OF TOFT and EIKOS RESCUER IV to rendezvous with the Clipper Yacht Race clipper venture 30 yacht DERRY – LONDONDERRY – DOIRE, sailing towards Port Elizabeth carrying their injured crew member Michelle Porter, 37, from London, suffering a suspected fractured arm sustained deep sea, 250 nautical miles off-shore of the East coast of South Africa, when the yacht was hit by a wave in rough seas during the Cape Town to Australia leg of the yacht race, to be casualty evacuated to hospital.
“On arrival on-scene, just off-shore of the Port of Port Elizabeth, NSRI crewman Marcus Oshry was transferred onto the yacht and the patient, celebrating her birthday, was found to be uncomfortable, in some pain, but in good spirits.
“The patient was transferred onto our sea rescue craft and brought into Port where a Gardmed ambulance transported her to hospital, in a stable condition, for further treatment.
“The yacht has continued on her voyage and the rescue operation was completed at 22h30.”
This is the second Clipper Yacht Race crew member to be admitted to a Port Elizabeth Hospital – Mission Performance crew member, David Griffin was casualty evacuated on 7 November after a cleat pierced his right leg.
David is currently in Greenacres Hospital and has been visited by local Algoa Bay Yacht members who have been keeping his spirits up with reading material and conversation. Rumours that he has also been receiving frothy Fanta Browns will be denied to the death.
Alan Straton
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Glad everyone is ok though.