The bid by the catamaran ORCA 2 to row the Atlantic was abandoned less than 48 hours after setting off from Puerto de Mogan in Gran Canaria.
The ten-man crew, which included Ted Jackson (2&3 South 1990) and Howard Wagstaff (Cubitt 2004) as well as Ted’s son, Oscar, who was at Cranleigh Prep, had to be airlifted to safety after Roy Finlay, the captain, was taken ill. In their hurry to evacuate the catamaran they left behind their passports.
“Sadly the expedition is over,” said a spokesman for the crew. “The crew were evacuated from the boat by helicopter and are all now safe on dry land. The next challenge is working out how to get home without passports.”
Mark Agnew, one of the crew members who were raising money for charity Overcoming MS, added: “Safety is always the number one concern on expeditions. With one crew member in a seriously bad way we had to order an emergency evacuation barely a few days in. Obviously I am devastated but glad everyone is okay.”
Finlay, a former Royal Navy diver from Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire, is understood to be resting after spending a few hours in a Gran Canaria hospital.
Ted Jackson later posted: “To quote my dear mother. ‘Shit happens’……. All safe on dry land. Mission aborted. Dramatic helicopter rescue. No phone. No passport. No worries. Thanks for everyone’s support. Hope to be back in Blighty on Monday. In light of my last two events I’m now looking for epic adventures which last 48 hours or less!”
An SOS signal from the vessel was picked up by the Maspalomas Space Station, which alerted the emergency services. The boat was intercepted 93 miles of the south west coast of Gran Canaria and each rower had to be hoisted to safety by a Maritime Rescue helicopter.