In a real-life ocean thriller, a 60-year-old French skipper found himself stranded and drifting off the coast of Seychelles after his yacht, Cote Rotie, dramatically sank. But thanks to some top-tier teamwork and quick action from both the Seychelles and French forces, this nail-biting ordeal ended with a triumphant rescue.
It all started when an alert came through from La Reunion’s CROSS (Centre Régional Opérationnel de Surveillance et de Sauvetage). Their message? A lone sailor was floating somewhere near Desroches Island, 230 kilometers off the Seychelles’ main island of Mahé, without food or water. That’s right—one man, one life raft, and a whole lot of ocean.
Cue the action: a French military plane flying toward Seychelles swooped in to pinpoint the skipper’s location. The French stayed in the skies until Seychelles Air Force’s (SAF) trusty Dornier aircraft arrived on the scene to take over. The coordination between both countries was flawless, with Seychelles’ Islands Development Company (IDC) and Blue Safari jumping into action to send a boat out for the actual rescue.
Guided by the SAF aircraft, the boat successfully reached the raft, bringing the lucky sailor safely aboard. After what can only be described as a terrifying experience, the man was brought ashore on Desroches late that night. Medical staff were quick to check him over, and after being kept under observation, he was flown back to Mahé the next morning—no doubt with a wild story to tell.
Desroches, the largest island in the Amirante Group, played a crucial role as the base for the rescue, with its remote beauty making the perfect contrast to the drama unfolding on the high seas. The Seychelles Defense Forces were quick to praise the collaboration, which quite literally saved a life.
This story is a reminder that while sailing the open ocean may seem romantic, the sea can turn into a danger zone at any moment. Luckily for this skipper, the quick and coordinated efforts of everyone involved turned a sinking ship into a successful rescue operation. All’s well that ends well, right?
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