site.btaSpanish Polar Committee Chair Sends Letter of Gratitude to Bulgarian Counterpart

The Spanish Polar Committee Chair Antonio Quesada sent a letter of gratitude to the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute Chair Prof. Christo Pimpirev in connection with the assistance provided to distressed yacht El Doblon on New Year's Eve by the Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii near Drake Passage. 

The 25-metre tourist yacht El Doblon is flying a Canadian flag with a 13-member crew. Its activities in the Antarctic are authorized by Spain and part of the crew are Spaniards.

"Although the incident took place outside the Antarctic Treaty area, the Bulgarian vessel came to our aid, for which we are very grateful. We hope that this distress call has not disrupted or delayed too much the planned activities of the research vessel," the letter says.

At around 2 am on January 1, El Doblon reported that there was a breach in the forward keel section with incoming water. RSV 421 prepared a rescue speedboat with a crew of three, equipped with life-saving gear and thermal suits, as well as mooring lines for towing the distressed vessel. Meanwhile, arrangements had been made on board the RSV 421 to provide first aid to people in distress.

At 2.50 a.m. RSV 421 was 0.4 nautical miles away from El Doblon, at which point El Doblon reported that the incoming water was stopped. The yacht was found to be listing hard to starboard and making 1.5 knots. The Bulgarian crew reported to the Chilean Coast Guard the condition of the yacht and commenced escorting her to the Beagle Channel and the port of Puerto Williams, Chile.