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German Navy helicopter rescues four sailors from disabled yacht off Schleswig-Holstein coast

Strong winds forced rescue cruisers to call in air support after a rudder failure left the nine-meter yacht drifting off Westerheversand.

Die „Eiswette“ schleppt das havarierte Schiff an Land.
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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.