Round-world family rescued by warship after yacht hits iceberg

A family's round-the-world yacht voyage almost ended in disaster after they hit an iceberg in the South Atlantic and were rescued by a warship, it emerged.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th May 2010, 22:24 BST
Updated 9th May 2010, 22:24 BST

The couple, who go by the names of Lord and Lady Hollinsclough, ran into trouble on Friday evening, 300 miles north-east of South Georgia after they hit a low-lying iceberg, known as a "growler".

Carl Lomas and Tracey Worth, who have lived in Chelmorton, Derbyshire in recent years, were sailing to Cape Town with their daughters, Caitland and Morgause Lomas.

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Falmouth Coastguard helped the Falkland Islands authorities locate the vessel – named Yacht Hollinsclough – which had taken on water and suffered engine failure.

On Saturday, the family began a 1,000-mile journey to the Falklands after the British warship HMS Clyde picked them up. They should arrive there by the middle of next week.

Prospects of saving the yacht – an 18-metre Oyster – which has been the couple's effective home in recent years, are understood to be poor.

According to the family's online blog, their latest travels began in March 2007 in Ipswich and have taken in Santander, Cape St Vincent, Salvador, Buenos Aires, Robinson Crusoe Island, Cape Horn, and recently South Georgia, before disaster struck.

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HMS Clyde was 200 miles south of the yacht when the alert was raised at 7pm, and it reached the yacht shortly after 12.30pm (South Georgia time) on Saturday.

Outgoing Marine Engineer Officer Lieutenant Robert Satterley said: "When we approached the yacht, we were relieved to see that there were four people alive and well.

"The yacht had sustained severe damage and lay low in the water and it was clear that the family had been through quite an ordeal.

"Unfortunately nothing could be done to save the yacht and we were just glad to get them back to the ship safely."

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His colleague, Lieutenant Commander Steve Moorhouse, said the response of his team had been "outstanding".

A coastguard spokesman said: "All four are safe and well now and on their way to the Falklands. They are okay, but I would imagine they are a bit shaken."

The coastguard likened the submerged iceberg to the one that sank the Titanic.