SV Tres Hombres takes rudderless boat in tow
by the Crew of Tres Hombres on 12/31/12
December 28, 2012 Atlantic 14 ΒΊ and 48 ΒΊ 42'53N 00'03W
Schoenerbrig Tres Hombres has taken in tow in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, the 12
meter ketch German Fidel with the 70 years old solo sailor Maurice.
On Boxing Day the Tres Hombres received a Pan Pan call. This is a call for assistance in
case of breakdown at sea. The Tres Hombres was the only ship in the area, ie, more than 100
nautical miles north of the Fidel. Because the Tres Hombres has no engine, and thus completely dependent on the wind, it took over a day for them.
When Captain Arjen van der Veen and an international crew arrived at the specified location,
there was no yacht encountered. On several calls over the ship's radio was no response, the Coast Guard of the Fort France had no more message received from Fidel. Just when Captain Arjen van der Veen had decided, after a few hours of searching, to go back towards the Caribbean the satellite phone with the exhausted skipper of Fidel was on the line. He drifted for two weeks around, the rudder had broken. After another half hour sail to the specified coordinates, the crew saw Fidel bobbing and she was taken in tow. Today will be examined whether the helm of Fidel can be made. If not, then they drag along to Barbados, the first destination of the Tres Hombres.
The Schoenerbrig Tres Hombres, sailing without an engine on board, is the figurehead and ambassador of the Foundation Atlantis Sailing Carriers. A public benefit organization, with the aim of commercial vessels sailing cargo all over the world. They do this by providing information about the conventional cargo trade, its pollution, the alternatives and the maintenance of existing sailing traditions with the Tres Hombres. In addition, the Foundation develops innovative modern
sailing freighters: the Ecoliner of Fair Transport. Also, the Foundation manages the Fair Atlantis transport label for clean and fair transport. The Tres Hombres proves already on a small scale that sailing cargo trade is possible. In May of this year she returned from her third trip in Den Helder with its freight of the Caribbean: rum, organic chocolate and cocoa, honey, massage oil, sea salt and crafts from the Dominican Republic and other Caribbean islands. In June she beer from England to France and thence brought wine to Denmark. In October this year, the Tres Hombres started her fourth trip to the Caribbean to develop new products and services.
Note to editors: Further information can be obtained from Dirk Klaassen, Agent Fair
Transport, tel 0118 566 179. He has daily contact with the Tres Hombres Atlantis
Commercial Boats Sailing Foundation Website: www.zeilendehandelsvaart.nl Website Tres
Hombres: www.svtreshombres.com
