What Crew Members Say About Deneb

On June 22, 2025, a dramatic rescue unfolded in the waters northeast of Rügen Island when German solo sailor Rüdiger Schwarz's 9.15-meter trimaran, 'Avanza' (MMSI: 228034820), capsized. The vessel was participating in the 'MidsummerSail' regatta, a popular sailing event that sees over 70 boats make the journey from the Bay of Wismar to northern Sweden. The incident occurred in the German-Danish border region during the late afternoon, prompting an emergency response after an automatic EPIRB signal from the Seacat 30 alerted rescue teams via satellite. The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Bremen, part of the German Society for Rescue at Sea (DGzRS), swiftly coordinated operations with Danish and Swedish rescue units, who also received the distress signal. In an impressive display of teamwork, the MRCC Bremen instructed the nearby vessel 'Deneb' to change course and head towards the coordinates provided by the distress beacon. Upon arrival at the scene, the crew of 'Deneb' found the overturned trimaran and successfully rescued Rüdiger Schwarz from the hull using a dinghy. After his retrieval, a Danish search and rescue helicopter came to the scene, hoisted Schwarz aboard, and transported him to Roskilde for necessary medical attention. The incident took place between the northern tip of Rügen and Bornholm, highlighting the swift and effective response capabilities of maritime rescue teams in emergency situations.