Overview

• The yacht suffered rudder damage about 19 kilometers west of Westerheversand and became unable to navigate in the North Sea.
• Heavy seas with waves up to two meters and winds reaching 61 km/h led three crew members to develop seasickness, complicating surface rescue attempts.
• DGzRS rescue cruisers EISWETTE and ERNST MEIER-HEDDE repeatedly failed to establish a tow line in rough conditions.
• A German Navy helicopter used a winch to airlift all four sailors, depositing the skipper on ERNST MEIER-HEDDE and flying the seasick crew ashore.
• Once the seas eased, the EISWETTE towed the disabled yacht into Strucklahnungshörn harbor later that day.