What Crew Members Say About Coral-Leader

On August 26, 2018, at 7:30 a.m., the CROSS Med received an urgent distress signal from the French yacht 'Jab de Mer' (MMSI-No.: 227283390), which was located approximately 180 kilometers southeast of Toulon. The yacht had six individuals on board, including a 5-year-old child, necessitating immediate evacuation. In response, CROSS Med promptly issued a Mayday relay, to which the vehicle carrier 'Coral Leader,' making its way from Livorno to Tarragona, quickly responded. However, the challenging weather conditions in the area created difficulties in safely recovering the yacht's crew. Consequently, a French Navy Panther helicopter was dispatched to facilitate the rescue. Additionally, a customs surveillance aircraft, already flying in the Mediterranean, altered its flight path to assist and maintain real-time communication with 'Jab de Mer.' The 'Coral Leader' positioned itself near the distressed boat to provide shelter from the troubling winds and high swells, thus aiding the rescue efforts. The helicopter arrived on the scene at 10 a.m., successfully hoisting three individuals, including the young child, during its first pass. A second flight around noon allowed for the rescue of the remaining crew members. Fortunately, all were reported to be in good health and were transported to Sainte-Musse hospital in Toulon for standard medical evaluations. At the time of the rescue, the waves in the area measured between 4 to 6 meters high, accompanied by winds reaching speeds of approximately 50 km/h. Following the successful assistance mission, 'Coral Leader' continued its journey, docking in Tarragona on August 28 at 6:30 a.m. For more details, you can view the French report with images at the official site: https://www.premar-mediterranee.gouv.fr/communiques-presse/cross-med-coordonne-une-operation-evacuation-voilier-mer-large-toulon.html.