The challenge: Sail 30,000 miles around the globe, non-stop, alone.
What could go wrong?
This week, Susie Goodall found out. The 29-year-old British woman was the youngest participant in the which sends sailors from the coast of France around the earth and back to the same port. Or at least that's the plan.
On Wednesday morning, Goodall was 2,000 miles west of South America when her boat in heavy wind, broke its mast and knocked her temporarily unconscious. She activated her emergency beacon and a series of troubling updates were posted to her Twitter account:
73-DISMASTED.HULL FORM OF JURY RIG,TOTAL LOSS
— SusieGoodallRacing (@susieBgoodall)
73-INTERIOR TOTAL WRECK,LIFERAFTOK
— SusieGoodallRacing (@susieBgoodall)
73-NASTY HEAD BANG AS BOAT PITCHPOLED.UNBELIEVABLY ROLY NOW
— SusieGoodallRacing (@susieBgoodall)
Chile's Maritime Coordination Center received her distress signal and the Tian Fu, a cargo ship from China to Argentina, to divert from its course and rescue Goodall.
Meanwhile, all Goodall could do was — trying to keep her boat steady in the choppy South Pacific and pumping out water that was leaking into the damaged cabin.
When the 600-foot rescue finally reached Goodall, deploying a small boat to retrieve her was impossible because of 10-13 foot waves rocking both ships. Instead, crew members on board the Tian Fu executed a kind of high-stakes version of , lowered a cable from one of the ship's massive cargo hoists, and plucked Goodall from her deck, hauling her to safety.
After 3 intensive days of co-ordinations from MRCC Chile, today at 15:35 UTCÂ Â the motor vessel "TIAN FU" was able to recue the British yachtswoman Susie Goodall.
— MRCC Chile (@MRCCChile)
BZ.
The good news was to her Facebook page: "From Susie, at 15:14 UTC: ON THE SHIP!!!" Goodall to arrive at the Chilean port of Punta Arenas on Wednesday.
She is not the first sailor to run into trouble in the race. As NPR , an accident in the Indian Ocean in September forced the evacuation of a naval commander; skippers from and have also had to be rescued.
In a post from Nov. 30 titled "Half way round the world," Goodall about how challenging the experience had been at that point as she faced fierce seas.
"To say I'd had enough by this point is an understatement. They were the hardest and loneliest days I've ever had. All I wanted was a break from it. But being under Australia, half the world from home I might as well sail home again instead of taking a break."
Her family rescuers and race organizers Friday, and said farewell to her ship, the DHL Starlight.
"It was with a heavy heart Susie left DHL Starlight to fend for herself, before she fills with water and rests on the Pacific Ocean floor. DHL Starlight has been her home for the past few years; a faithful friend who stood up valiantly to all the elements, a guardian until their last moments together."
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