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An evacuation mission to rescue an Irish hero who tried to help a wounded rival during the Golden Globe race has been completed today.
Dubliner Gregor McGuckin lost the mast of his yacht during a storm leaving it almost drifting more than 1,000 kilometers from the nearest land.
The Irish sailor had courageously helped another competitor in the race around the world, the Indian navigator Abhilash Tomy, seriously injured when his ship was damaged during a storm.
In a statement, McGuckin's team said the Irishman and his competitor Abhilash Tomy were now on board the French patrol ship Osiris.
The statement added: "The ship initially rescued Indian sailor Abhilash Tomy, who would be conscious and speaking.
"The ship then sailed about 30 miles to safely evacuate Gregor McGuckin. McGuckin's condition is good and only revealed bumps and bruises.
"In an incredible show of seamanship, the 32-year-old Irishman managed to build a jury platform (makeshift repairs) and to steer his yacht Hanley Energy Endurance over the last four days to 30 miles from her crew. teammate. on the spot to help rescue if necessary.
"McGuckin did not declare an emergency for his own situation despite the overthrow and loss of his mast.
"However, given the extremely remote situation and condition of his yacht, it was considered appropriate to abandon her yacht as part of a controlled evacuation situation at the appropriate time.
"The planned move ensures that, in the event that his own situation deteriorates in a landing attempt, a second rescue mission would not be necessary.
The team, friends and family of Gregor McGuckin would like to express their sincere gratitude to all who have participated in the operation so far. Our thoughts are now with Abhilash and his family.
The race organizers revealed that Tomy's yacht's mast, Thuriya, had broken when he was injured in a storm on Friday and the boater suffered what he described as a "serious injury to back".
The 39-year-old Indian Navy commander was "neutralized on his bunk inside his boat", 1,000 miles southwest of Perth, in western Australia, said the organizers of the race.
The 2018 Golden Globe Race left Les Sables d'Olonne on July 1st.
The competitors aim to go around the world alone, without stopping, via the five major caps and return to the French port.
