I often check the SAR aircraft stationed at Essendon airport to see what it's up to and this morning on Marine Traffic it's out just off the continental shelf in the middle of the Great Australian Bight. There are other vessels in the vicinity of the yacht so something is amiss and it's blowing a gale.
Only six and a half metre yacht, that's about 21 feet. Or there is a mistake, but it's also very far out to sea.
It must be Xavier who is circumnavigating solo in a 21 footer - www.thelittleaussielap.com/tracker
Xavier is sailing in a Transat Mini 6.5m carbon race boat. He only recently set off again after encountering some serious conditions off the coast of WA. Stopped in to Freo for repairs. He was well ahead of the non stop solo circumnavigation of Australia when he was forced to stop. He was still chasing the record for the youngest sailor and smallest boat to circumnavigate Oz.
Sounds crazy out there, best of luck to him. He has skills and knowledge so hoping everything will be fine and he returns safely.
DM
Thankfully he has been rescued in a sublime effort by the container ship crew and all involved in the effort. Successfully and safely getting a solo sailor off a 6.5m vessel in those conditions is not beer and skittles.
www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-08/search-for-boat-in-great-australian-bight/102578820
The blocking high still too far north so every front will be nasty and moving fast
Sounds like he was lucky to get away with that one. As others have said amazing effort from the rescue team. 8 metre waves????
Would be interested to read the rescue report if any can find it or get access to it.
What are the chances of getting the boat back? Does he still have time/money to try again?
Select to expand quotetarquin1 said..
Really should be wearing a helmet in those conditions.
I am always horrified when I see bolts protruding from the coach house roofs into yachts. It's pretty easy to grind them off but then even dome nuts like I have on the bolts holding my life raft down could puncture a skull.
Yes a simple push bike helmet would be a good idea.
He's lucky he got that far across the bight as it was. He didn't look that injured and the boat seems still intact, apparently activating a EPIRB even if it's not a MAYDAY is acceptable now and when he lost coms that's exactly what he did. I see a Costly taxpayers lift back to dry land for a hot cuppa , meal and warm bed. 
Select to expand quotesouthace said..
He's lucky he got that far across the bight as it was. He didn't look that injured and the boat seems still intact, apparently activating a EPIRB even if it's not a MAYDAY is acceptable now and when he lost coms that's exactly what he did. I see a Costly taxpayers lift back to dry land for a hot cuppa , meal and warm bed.
Not sure I agree. Great to see some youngster out there trying to break a record. Haven't really looked into it but looks like a reasonably well organised program. If it was well organised etc and he just got caught in the wrong spot at the wrong time that's what can happen when you try and break long distance records.
Alone,head injury,some damage to the boat,weather really bad and not getting better for some time. Maybe he lost comms because he had no power, means bilge pumps aren't working all add up too time to get off before it's too late.
Hope he can get sponsorship or help and have another go.
The yachts AIS transponder was showing its position on marine traffic this arvo but is not showing tonight. The tracker on his website is showing the yachts position as:
-35.36670, 132.00630
He reckons he hit a sunfish!
www.perthnow.com.au/news/offbeat/sailor-xavier-doerr-blames-ocean-sunfish-for-hitting-boat-resulting-in-him-needing-to-be-rescued-off-wa-c-11226676
Select to expand quotePhoney said..
He reckons he hit a sunfish!
www.perthnow.com.au/news/offbeat/sailor-xavier-doerr-blames-ocean-sunfish-for-hitting-boat-resulting-in-him-needing-to-be-rescued-off-wa-c-11226676
We had a bulk carrier and a car carrier sitting on holding pattens in our gulf, 70 knot max winds and 7 to 10 meter seas in the bight, I'm not sure how he figured a sunfish would be frolicking around the surface in those conditions! I have spoken to a few professional captains and sailer friends and have all commented what the hell was he doing out there in mid July!
We are experienced sailors and wouldn't take even my Bluewater 420 into those conditions never mind a small racing keel boat , risking he's life and all involved in the rescue.
The guy was trying to set a few records. He missed out on non stop circumnavigation due to damage off W.A. coast and pulling into Freemantle for repairs. So when he left Freemantle do you really think he could have predicted the conditions he would encounter in the eastern side of the Bight??
The boat is a Transatt which are wickedly fast. Weather in the bight is predominantly westerly so at the speed he might have been doing just hitting a jelly fish could have torn the keel off the boat.
He put out a distress signal because there was immenent danger of loss of life which makes it encumbent for all vessels in the area to lend assistance if required and possible.
What would you have done???
Oh, I don't want to put anybody out so I will just go down with my ship??
Mini transat boats are racers, and not really heavy weather boats. Winter in the Bight was always going to be a challenge. His comms were all out of action so he had to make a quick decision without the luxury of time to investigate the water in the boat or the severity of his injury.
Select to expand quotecisco said..
The guy was trying to set a few records. He missed out on non stop circumnavigation due to damage off W.A. coast and pulling into Freemantle for repairs. So when he left Freemantle do you really think he could have predicted the conditions he would encounter in the eastern side of the Bight??
The boat is a Transatt which are wickedly fast. Weather in the bight is predominantly westerly so at the speed he might have been doing just hitting a jelly fish could have torn the keel off the boat.
He put out a distress signal because there was immenent danger of loss of life which makes it encumbent for all vessels in the area to lend assistance if required and possible.
What would you have done???
Oh, I don't want to put anybody out so I will just go down with my ship??
I will never comment on any captains right to hit the panic button when the crap hits the fan. My only point is that is entering such dangerous bit of water water that borders on the Southern Ocean in a CE Class B/ Class C boat is really asking for trouble. A Mini transat 6.5 is hardly in the class or of the Vertue , M26 Folkboat or Flicka style of yacht that is heavy displacement many of which have done circumnavigations via the 5 capes. But I suppose each to their own gamble in life. I am glad that he is OK and that his spirit lives on for further adventures.
Well the AIS signal from his drifting yacht is back on showing its position. I wouldn't be surprised if they are able to salvage it as it approaches the SA coast probably near Coffin Bay as its drift is showing.
I say good on him!
In this world today there are too many reasons not to do something. At the age of 20 something this bloke has managed to do all things needed and set sail in an attempt to break records. He could have come up with a thousand reasons to sit at home and play video games or focus on his study/career, or grow old wishing he had of tried something spectacular.
Personally I envy him.
www.thelittleaussielap.com/xavier
Good on him. Didn't realise he was trying to break multiple records at once. Not only fastest solo but smallest. I guess that's why he chose a mini. Then youngest at the same time!
Sounds like he funded it in the beginning and did lots of work himself, over years.
Hopefully a good future Infront of him. With the double handed class so popular now I would think there are some people looking at him.
No idea how he was actually doing until he had to pull in but he shows determination.
Good luck to him.
Yes I just saw that and thought the same. Especially as it is heading east with the wind from the North
The short video clip of the ship approaching the yacht did not show excessive winds. Maybe 30 kts.
I've been across the bight quite a few times on Navy ships, twice on the aircraft carrier HMAS MELBOURNE in winter months. Both times we had 70 kt winds. On one a destroyer escort suffered hull damage due to the seas and had to get to Esperance for emergency repairs. Going across the Bight in winter is only for the very best ocean-going boats.
Good on him for getting out of his comfort zone and going for it. But doing it in that boat in July is just dumb and does risk him and any rescue effort. He shouldn't have been out there.
Select to expand quoteMorningBird said..
The short video clip of the ship approaching the yacht did not show excessive winds. Maybe 30 kts.
I've been across the bight quite a few times on Navy ships, twice on the aircraft carrier HMAS MELBOURNE in winter months. Both times we had 70 kt winds. On one a destroyer escort suffered hull damage due to the seas and had to get to Esperance for emergency repairs. Going across the Bight in winter is only for the very best ocean-going boats.
Good on him for getting out of his comfort zone and going for it. But doing it in that boat in July is just dumb and does risk him and any rescue effort. He shouldn't have been out there.
Considering that it only takes a wave height of 50% of beam to roll the yacht, which is not that much of a wave you are probably right.
The design is self righting with a weight on the mast when testing for self righting ability so I suppose that is a positive attribute.
I couldn't agree more MorningBird...
Considering he had already lost his non-stop record, I'm sure there were options preferable to the weather he faced. Four of my colleague's use to fly SAR on the Dornier and 1 currently on the Challenger and all claim that most yacht rescues are from sailors who have just given up. Thats putting other peoples lives in danger just because you are fatigued and don't want to be there anymore (and I am talking in general, not necessarily Xaviers case as I hadn't followed it at all).
MorningBird do you remember which Destroyer was escorting you? I think my father may have been on it. I will have to ask him, but of the DDGs he served on, he spent most of his time on HMAS Brisbane.
