The operation took place in very bad weather conditions, 40 knots of wind and worsening seas
April 20, 2024
There had been no news of a man for days sailor of Spanish nationality who had begun, on 11 April, a solo navigation from the island of Crete towards Sicily, aboard a 12-metre vessel. After receiving the information from the Piraeus rescue center (Greece) and acquiring a satellite signal indicating the possible presence of the unit 110 miles from Cape Spartivento (about 200 km from the Calabrian coast), the rescue machine was set in motion. rescue of Coast Guard coordinated by the Maritime Directorate of Reggio Calabriawith a plane that took off from Catania, a patrol boat that left from Roccella Jonica and two merchant ships diverted to the area in search of the vessel.
With very bad weather conditions, 40 knots of wind and 5 knots of worsening seas, the “Black Bit” was finally sighted by the Coast Guard aircraft, with its solitary navigator who managed to send out light signals to be identified, only to be reached – in the middle of the night – by the CP311 from Roccella Jonica which it took on board the unfortunate man, finally saving him. After the initial treatment provided on board the patrol boat, the sailor was entrusted to the 118 health workers upon arrival at the port of Roccella this morning.
