A solo sailor has been rescued having spent the night battling giant waves and severe winds in the Great Australian Bight after running into trouble hundreds of kilometres from help.
Xavier Doerr, 22, was winched to safety late on Saturday after he was forced to trigger an emergency beacon shortly before 5pm the previous day while attempting to complete a non-stop and unassisted circumnavigation of Australia.
The experienced sailor had reported that he had sustained injuries and his boat was taking on water, causing him to fear for his safety, according to a social media update by support crew.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority said he was taken on board by diverted Bulk Carrier Theodore JR and treated for injuries.
Authorities established radio and visual contact with Mr Doerr by air after picking up the distress call, with vessels arriving at his location on Saturday afternoon.
Two merchant vessels were diverted to the 6.5-metre sailing yacht’s location about 630km west of Kangaroo Island in South Australia and 740km southeast of Esperance in Western Australia.
Winds gusting over 100km/h and eight-metre waves made the rescue difficult, with Mr Doerr winched from his stricken vessel after several failed attempts.
Aerial footage showed his yacht Waterline being tossed around by large waves with its sails bundled on the deck.
He had been hoping to become youngest and fastest sailor to complete the journey by finishing in less than 50 days.
Embarking from Queensland’s Southport Yacht Club to complete an anti-clockwise circumnavigation, Mr Doerr had already travelled over 5200 nautical miles when he ran into trouble and had been at sea 64 days.
Support crew member, Lee Randall said they lost radio contact with Mr Doerr for an extended period on Friday afternoon.
“It’s been a hell of a 24 hours,” he said.
“During that period … Xavier took the decision to trigger his personal locator beacon.
“He had sustained some injuries and there was some water ingress into the boat and he genuinely feared for his safety.
“As part of his shore team we support Xavier’s decisions but really Xavier’s decisions are his own out there.”
Two Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) challenger class rescue aircraft remained overhead throughout the night and communicated with Mr Doerr via VHF radio.
