Planned 4 year circumnavigation ends in the Atlantic when Skipper lost overboard
Stanislaw and Elisabeth Dabrowna were just at the start of their 4-year circumnavigation, having left the Canary Islands for Barbados in early November. Sadly 180nm east of Barbados, Stan went overboard bringing their planned adventure together to an abrupt and heartbreaking end. The search continues for Mr. Dabrowna. See updates from Fort de France MRCC, who are coordinating this case, at bottom of the report.
Published 6 years ago, updated 5 years ago
As reported by https://www.wprost.pl
A cruising couple from Poland, Stanislaw Dabrowny and his wife Elisabeth, left on the first leg of their circumnavigation across the Atlantic on November 2nd from the Canary Islands towards Barbados. Their yacht was a Bavaria 44, S/Y VAGANT.
When their daughters had not heard from them by November 24th, the date they were supposed to arrive according to their schedule, they became concerned. “The last signal I received from them was more than 24 hours ago. It was a strange phone call during which my mother was screaming my name, but the call was broken”, their daughter Aga wrote on her Facebook page.
It was later discovered that Stan had fallen overboard on Tuesday 21st November and Elisabeth had been unable to retrieve him.
Elisabeth has since been rescued from the yacht and is now on board a container ship, bound for Brazil. The same ship made an attempt to tow SY Vagant, however, it was unsuccessful.
The fate of 74-year-old Stanislaw Dąbrowny remains unknown. His daughter has confirmed he has a “yellow lifebuoy” with him. “My mum has a bearing where my father fell overboard. Considering the current, the water, the speed with which he can move (that is about one and a half knots), you can calculate exactly where he could be” she says. For the latest updates see https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=545272292
The ARC+ fleet has been notified to be on the lookout. The French authorities are concentrating on a 30-mile search area.
Related to following destinations: Barbados, Canary Islands, Poland
Related to the following Cruising Resources: Atlantic Crossing, Routing, Safety and Medical
Mystery as yacht in full sail runs in to Lambeau Recife, Tobago.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/138065706283722/permalink/1539842766106002/
Further update from Fort de France MRCC:
A piece of gennaker belonging to the S/V “VAGANT” has been sighted on November 29th morning in position 14°18N – 055°41W. The man overboard we are searching is likely to be adrift in vicinity of this position. All ships in vicinity of this position are requested to keep a sharp look-out, to investigate every floating object in this area and to report any information by Isat Phone (+870 776 300 406) to Fort de France MRCC coordinating this case.
Update from Fort de France MRCC:
This mail is to update you about the estimated last know position of Man Over Board ( 14 21N – 053 03W on the 22sd November 01H00 UTC).
A patrol Aircraft from Barbados is currently on search area BOX NW- 14°45 N ; 055°15 W / NE – 14°45 N ; 054°46 W / SE – 14°03 N ; 054°46 W /SW – 14°03 N ; 055°15 W
Watch Master.