BMEA

McMurdo Ltd  announces that the efficiency of the international search and rescue services in responding to an EPIRB distress signal was demonstrated when Falmouth Coastguard, UK,  alerted the Colombian Coastguard within minutes of a McMurdo SMARTFIND EPIRB being activated.  The signal was transmitted by a couple whose yacht was sinking on passage to Cartagena, Colombia.

Jeff Morris and his wife left the East Hollandes, San Blas Islands  on passage to Cartagena, in late November last year in their 51ft sloop. Winds were light and conditions moderate.  However, hours later, in strong winds and confused seas with waves of up to 12 ft, the Morrises realised that the yacht was taking in water from the bow.  It was later revealed that a large tree trunk had split the hull port side forward. 

They switched on the electric bilge pump and used the manual bilge pump in the cockpit and a bucket.  At this stage they put out a Pan Pan distress call alerting an American yacht Jupiter’s Smile which was approximately 10 miles away and altered course towards them.  They continued to bail but were hampered by the fact that their workshop was in the bow, and access was difficult.  Realising that the water inside the yacht was rising quicker than they could bail out they changed the Pan Pan call to a Mayday and activated the DSC radio.  A few hours later, with the bow completely under water they abandoned ship into their liferaft and activated their McMurdo SMARTFIND EPIRB. 

Within 30 minutes of activating the SMARTFIND – as they later discovered – Falmouth coastguard had telephoned their shoreside contact back in the UK and were also in contact with the Colombian Coastguard. 

Fortunately, by this time Jupiter’s Smile and other yachts who had heard their radio call were at the scene and they were picked up from the liferaft after about 20 minutes. 

Jeff, back home safe and sound, commented “We have nothing but praise for our McMurdo SMARTFIND EPIRB and would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone venturing offshore.”