Gipsy Moth IV Rescue

Sir Francis Chichester's restored Gipsy Moth IV is on her second circumnavigation of the globe and is expected to arrive in Sydney around June 23.

Rangiroa Atoll, part of the Tuamotu Islands in French Polynesia, is probably one of the most beautiful places in the world but its remote geography and complete lack of salvage resources proved challenging. However, in less than four days from the incident occurring, a full salvage team was assembled and working towards re-floating Gipsy Moth IV.

The international team, led by Captain Kleijwert of Smit Salvage of Rotterdam and Richard Baggett of the Gipsy Moth IV Project, included the owner of a local boat yard, two ship surveyors from Tahiti, a tug captain, two specialist divers and a team of experienced ship construction workers. Resources available in the area include a flat top barge, a crane and a Voith Schneider tug with a 40-tonne pulling capability.

The team's rescue plan included gently lifting the yacht at low tide with a crane, effecting temporary repairs to the damaged area and constructing a wooden frame to protect and support the hull. Refloating the yacht at high tide with floatation devices after removing as much of the yacht's inventory as possible. The Voith Schneider tug, because of the unique design of its propulsion system, is able not only to hold its position relative to the yacht very accurately but also increases its pulling power in gentle steps. It towed the yacht resting on its side in its cradle 15m across the reef to deepwater.

All the patching and the preparations worked very well and the rescue went without a hitch.

Richard Baggett, the lead skipper of the GMIV project said 'the crossing went very well. We had light SE wind, low swell and the weather overall was very kind, enabling us to make good speed'.

Regarding the damage to Gipsy Moth IV, Richard said 'there was some water ingress but this was easily containable with the diesel powered bilge pump, there is some damage to the rudder and as expected the starboard side has suffered scraping from the rocks'. Despite obvious tiredness, Richard is very upbeat and keen to get on with the repair work as soon as possible.

Gipsy Moth IV has now been lifted out of the water and chocked up on the hard in readiness for the damage assessment by the surveyor at the start of next week.

John MacDonald a marine surveyor from Auckland will be inspecting her damage on Tuesday and all being well she will soon be en route by ship to New Zealand where she is anticipated in Auckland on the 21st May ... then it's a race against time to get her ready for James Blake (son of Sir Peter Blake) to sail out of Auckland onboard on 23rd June towards an amazing welcome that is being prepared for her in Sydney.

www.gipsymoth.org