Discover the Thor-Magni: Ratings & Maritime News

On June 9, 2017, a fierce storm with winds reaching 60 knots and towering waves of 10-15 meters struck the Ostar/Twostar race participants, roughly 1,600 kilometers off the coast of Newfoundland. As three yachts found themselves in peril, their crews activated Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB), prompting a rapid response from the Canadian Coast Guard. An extensive search and rescue (SAR) operation was launched, and despite facing treacherous conditions during the mission on June 11, assistance came from the skies thanks to the Royal Canadian Air Force and support from British and Portuguese aircraft. Nearby vessels also joined the rescue efforts, ensuring the safe retrieval of the sailors. Among those in distress was Mervyn Wheatley, who had to abandon his Formosa 42 yacht, 'Tamarind,' after it sustained severe damage from the relentless waves. Wheatley was ultimately saved by the renowned cruise ship 'Queen Mary 2,' after bravely battling flooding for several hours. He was safely transported to Halifax. Dutch sailors Wytse Bouma and Jaap Barendregt faced their own crisis aboard their Sun Fast 37, 'Happy,' suffering a catastrophic mast failure. They were rescued by the tug 'Alp Forward,' which came to their aid amidst the chaos. Meanwhile, Mihail Kopanov and Dian Zaykov from Bulgaria were saved by the 'Thor Magni' just moments before their Luffe 37 yacht, 'Furia,' succumbed to the sea and sank. In the wake of the storm, other sailors also coped with their challenges. Peter Crowther, navigating his Swan 38 'Suomi Kudu,' had to turn back due to sail issues, while Keith Walton, aboard a Najad 490 named 'Harmonii,' struggled to make it to the Azores using only engine power after suffering damage to his yacht's rigging. For more details and photos of this dramatic rescue operation, you can visit the following links: [Sailing Reporter](http://segelreporter.com/regatta/offshore/ostar-rettung-queen-mary-2-fischt-segler-auf-roettgering-kaempft-sich-durch-sturm/), [BBC News](http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-40239586), [Infotel](http://infotel.ca/newsitem/all-crew-aboard-distressed-ships-in-transatlantic-race-safe/it43313#.WT16Q2ikLIU), and [Aftonbladet](http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/1lQge/svenska-rebecka-mitt-i-havsdrama-nar-segelbat-forliste).