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A solo rower was rescued from the Atlantic Ocean east of Puerto Rico after his rowboat capsized in the course of the World’s Hardest Row Race, a 3,000-mile rowing race from San Sebastian de la Gomera, Spain, to Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua.
Benoit Bourguet, 47, a citizen of Belgium, was rescued by Coast Guard Sector San Juan Command Heart watchstanders and the crew of the Horten Liberian-flagged tanker ship on Wednesday night time after his single-man rowing vessel, Metropolis of Liverpool, was struck by two “rogue waves and capsized in 13 to 15-foot seas,” in accordance to a press launch from the U.S. Coast Guard.
Bourguet was pressured to deploy and board his life raft after encountering the waves, the U.S. Coast Guard stated. He connected his life raft to the capsized rowboat.
“Coast Guard Sector San Juan Command Heart watchstanders acquired an unregistered 406 MHz Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacon EPIRB sign from the Metropolis of Liverpool rowboat at roughly 2 a.m. Wednesday, alerting of a attainable misery roughly 1,100 nautical miles east of Puerto Rico,” the Coast Guard added.
The watchstanders then acquired a second emergency misery sign from a private finding beacon system from the identical space because the rowboat. They then contacted the World’s Hardest Row Race security co-ordinator, who confirmed they’d not been capable of contact Bourguet after many messages had gone unanswered.
An Automated Mutual-Help Vessel Rescue (AMVER) callout was issued by the watchstanders “to contact the 1,092-foot Horten tanker and Enhanced Group Calling (EGC) to inform different vessels within the neighborhood to be looking out for misery.”
“In addition they contacted the rowing vessel Previous Sea Canines, additionally collaborating within the race, who made VHF radio callouts to Bourguet, nevertheless, these calls additionally went unanswered,” the press launch continued. “In the meantime, the Horten tanker, which was transiting on a voyage from Germany of Offshore Guyana, acquired the AMVER communication and diverted for over 12 hours transiting roughly 110 miles to the misery sign’s place.”
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In accordance with the U.S. Coast Guard, the watchstanders maintained communication with the Horten tanker ship’s crew.
“As soon as within the neighborhood, Horten’s ship crew sighted a life raft and confirmed a survivor,” the press launch stated. “Because of the heavy sea states, the Horten ship crew used a life ring to securely get well the survivor, who was confirmed to be Bourguet.
The U.S. Coast Guard stated that Bourguet was “dehydrated however in any other case in good well being” and he “reported being in misery for about 24 hours” whereas sustaining his “capsized vessel tied to the life raft till his rescue.”
Benoit Bourguet was rescued after his boat capsized within the Atlantic Ocean east of Puerto Rico.
United States Coast Guard
“We’re very pleased with the seamless coordination between our Sector San Juan Command Heart watchstanders and the brave crew and captain of the motor tanker Horten, which resulted within the profitable rescue of a mariner,” stated Lt. Kenneth Snyder, Coast Guard Sector San Juan mission co-ordinator for the case.
“The Horten’s participation within the AMVER program was important and the crew’s selflessness and swift response embody the spirit of this voluntary program, the place mariners stand prepared to assist each other,” he added.
No different vessels within the race have been reported to be in misery, the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed.
World’s Hardest Row took to Fb to announce that Bourguet “is now safely on board the rescuing vessel.”
“On Tuesday 21 January, an emergency beacon (EPIRB) alert was acquired from the solo rowing vessel ‘Metropolis of Liverpool,’ competing below the workforce identify Viva For Life. In step with established security procedures, the alert was instantly escalated to the related search and rescue authorities, who coordinated the response in cooperation with Atlantic Campaigns,” they wrote.
“Benoit’s assist community have been knowledgeable, and we is not going to be sharing additional particulars at this stage,” they continued. “World’s Hardest Row want to thank the search and rescue authorities and the vessel concerned for his or her swift {and professional} help.”
The particular person working Bourguet’s Fb web page whereas he was participating within the race shared an replace on his account, writing, “A lot of you’re involved, rightly so, however we’re completely satisfied to report that Ben is okay.”
“The group derailed a ship since 4 am yesterday Wednesday, Ben was recovered secure and sound final night time round 11 pm UTC. None of us have had direct contact with him to this point. His family members have been knowledgeable, and we’re following the state of affairs carefully with them,” the particular person wrote from Bourguet’s account.
“So Ben may have a protracted story to inform when he returns! So any worries could be lifted,” the continued.
The particular person added that “Benoit would have clearly wished to have the ability to end this race” however a very powerful factor “is that he’s secure and sound.”
© 2026 International Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
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