SW-INC-0185SeaWise Incidents

Magia - A yacht's mast broke off Ubatuba, leaving three adrift overnight until a helicopter found them

The sailboat Magia lost her main mast on a Saturday night between Anchieta and Vitória islands; her three crew drifted through the night before a police helicopter located them and lifted them to safety.

verified · 1 sourceN
Vessel
MagiaSailing yacht
When
2025South Atlantic
Crew
3 aboardAll survived
Outcome
Rescued
Position
Off Ubatuba, between Anchieta and Vitória islands, north coast of São Paulo, Brazil
Sea area
Ubatuba · north coast of São Paulo
Coordinates
-23.50°S, -45.30°WApproximate position
Summary

What happened.

On the night of 4–5 October 2025, the sailing yacht Magia lost her main mast and was left drifting with three people aboard between Anchieta and Vitória islands, off Ubatuba on Brazil's São Paulo coast. After they spent the night adrift, a Military Police helicopter located the boat the next morning and the three crew were rescued and brought ashore safely.

On the night of Saturday 4 October 2025, the sailing yacht Magia was off Ubatuba, on the north coast of São Paulo, Brazil, when her main mast broke. Without her rig the boat was left drifting, with three people aboard, in the waters between the islands of Anchieta and Vitória. The maritime fire brigade (GBMar) received the alert, and a substantial response was mounted with the fire service, military police, the Brazilian Navy and the Air Force all involved. Working from the boat's last known coordinates, a Military Police 'Águia' helicopter searched and located the drifting Magia on the Sunday morning, after the crew had spent the night adrift. All three were rescued and brought safely ashore. It was a dismasting that ended well — the crew stayed with the boat and were found at first light.

ConditionsNight of Saturday 4 to Sunday 5 October 2025. The sailing yacht Magia, with three aboard, lost her main mast and was left drifting between Anchieta and Vitória islands off Ubatuba, on the north coast of São Paulo. The maritime fire brigade (GBMar) was alerted; with support from the fire service, military police, Brazilian Navy and Air Force, a Military Police 'Águia' helicopter located the drifting boat on the Sunday morning and the three crew were rescued and taken ashore.
SeaWise noteLose the rig and a sailing boat just drifts, wherever wind and current take it, often toward a shore. The Magia's crew did the right things — they stayed with the hull and waited rather than scattering, and at first light a helicopter homed in on the boat. A rig can fail anytime; the answers — emergency steering, a way to hold position, and a way to be located — belong on the checklist before you leave the dock.
Lessons learned

What it teaches.

  • 1
    Lose the mast and a sailboat becomes a drifting one — carry a backup plan. The Magia's main mast broke and left three crew adrift overnight off Ubatuba. Think through emergency steering and propulsion before you sail: a reliable engine, the tools to clear a downed rig, and a way to hold position rather than drift onto a lee shore.
    rig failure loss of steering
  • 2
    Be findable, and stay with the boat. The Magia's crew were located by helicopter at first light because rescuers had coordinates and a hull to home on. Carry a VHF, a phone and ideally a beacon, give your position when you call, and stay with the boat — it is a far bigger target than three people in the water.
    communications rescue
Sources

Where this comes from.

News· South America sailing newsVÍDEO: Trio é resgatado após passar a noite em veleiro à deriva em UbatubaVisit ↗

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From SeaWise

Procedures involved.

ProcedurePrimary

Rig failure

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Record IDSW-INC-0185
Curated bySeaWise editorial
Confidenceverified · 1 source
Record typeIncident

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