SW-INC-0262SeaWise Incidents

Lorrigray II - Cruising yacht Lorrigray II sinks off Madagascar; three crew rescued by a cargo ship

On passage from Mayotte toward South Africa, the cruising yacht Lorrigray II sank off the Madagascar coast overnight; her three crew — Swedish, Canadian and Italian — were picked up by the freighter Petalouda and returned to Mayotte.

likely · 1 sourceN
Vessel
Lorrigray IICruising yacht
When
2022Indian Ocean
Crew
3 aboardAll survived
Outcome
Sunk
Position
Off the coast of Madagascar (Mozambique Channel), en route Mayotte to Richards Bay, South Africa
Sea area
Off Madagascar
Coordinates
-13.50°S, 48.00°EApproximate position
Summary

What happened.

Overnight on 19–20 March 2022, the cruising yacht Lorrigray II sank off the coast of Madagascar while on passage from Mayotte toward Richards Bay, South Africa. Her three crew — Swedish, Canadian and Italian — were rescued by the cargo ship Petalouda in Madagascan waters and brought back to Mayotte by the SNSM sea-rescue service, reaching shore safely on 22 March. The cause of the sinking was not reported.

During the night of Saturday 19 to Sunday 20 March 2022, the cruising yacht Lorrigray II sank off the coast of Madagascar. She had been on a long ocean passage from Mayotte toward Richards Bay in South Africa, with three sailors aboard who were originally from Sweden, Canada and Italy. After the yacht went down in Madagascan waters, the three were picked up by the crew of the cargo ship Petalouda, and were then transferred to and brought back to Mayotte by the national sea-rescue society (SNSM), reaching the coast safely on 22 March. All three survived. The available reporting did not set out what caused the yacht to sink — but the outcome turned on the things that decide most blue-water sinkings: that the crew could raise the alarm, that a merchant ship was within reach to take them off, and that they got safely from a sinking yacht onto that ship.

ConditionsOvernight from Saturday 19 to Sunday 20 March 2022, off the coast of Madagascar. The cruising yacht Lorrigray II, on passage from Mayotte toward Richards Bay in South Africa with three sailors aboard — originally from Sweden, Canada and Italy — sank in Madagascan waters. The three were rescued by the crew of the cargo ship Petalouda and then brought back to Mayotte by the national sea-rescue society (SNSM), reaching the coast safely on 22 March. The cause of the sinking was not detailed in the available report.
SeaWise noteMost of what saves a crew in a mid-ocean sinking is decided before you leave the dock — a serviced raft, a beacon that gives your position, water and food in a grab-bag, and a shore contact who'll notice you're overdue. We don't know why Lorrigray II sank, but her three crew lived because the alarm reached a ship in time. Prepare as if no one is coming, then call as if they are.
Lessons learned

What it teaches.

  • 1
    On a long blue-water passage, plan for rescue by a passing ship. The Lorrigray II's crew were taken off by a freighter mid-ocean. Carry a registered EPIRB, DSC VHF and AIS so a ship can find you, and rehearse the transfer — stepping from a sinking yacht onto a high steel hull is its own hazard.
    abandon ship communications
  • 2
    Leave a passage plan and keep check-ins. On a remote crossing like Mayotte to South Africa, a shore contact who knows your route, timing and 'overdue' plan means a search can start fast if you cannot raise help yourself. Agree the schedule and the alarm-raising trigger before you sail.
    communications
  • 3
    Keep abandon-ship gear ready on every offshore passage. Whatever sank this yacht, the crew survived because they could get off and be recovered. Service the liferaft, keep a grab-bag with water, signalling gear and a beacon to hand, and wear lifejackets when conditions or the situation demand it.
    abandon ship
Sources

Where this comes from.

News· Southern Africa & adjacent seas sailing newsUn voilier de plaisance coule au large des côtes malgachesVisit ↗

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Record IDSW-INC-0262
Curated bySeaWise editorial
Confidencelikely · 1 source
Record typeIncident

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