Sailor loses everything

A solo sailor has lost everything after being caught in a mid-Atlantic storm and  forced to abandon his yacht. He is now recovering on an oil tanker after the return trans-Atlantic crossing back to the UK ended in disaster.

Caught in a storm, Billy Brannan’s vessel, a Vancouver 34 called Helena, was sailing well in 50kts of wind for 30 hours with no problems, when it was suddenly capsized and rolled by a large wave in the middle of the night.  Helena was badly damaged and dis-masted 500Nm from the UK on 22nd May 2020. Despite trying to keep going it became impossible, and the vessel was abandoned after a two-day international rescue operation.

It should have been a dream trip but on arriving in the Caribbean in March Billy learnt everything was closed due to the Covid-19 outbreak. The world had changed.

After finding supplies and a short rest he knew he had to return home to Essex before the hurricane season - it was that journey that was almost his last. Billy, a sailor with considerable solo experience, lived on the 34-foot sailing yacht, and was unable to get insurance for the trip. He is now not sure how he will get home from America once the tanker reaches its destination, or what he will come home too.

Almost all his possessions were lost and it is a devastating and worrying time for him. We want to try and help him recover from this ordeal and his friends are trying to raise £30k to help him get back to the UK, and start to replace belongings, and help him get back on his feet - which is a fraction of what he has lost.

Please share this post and give what you can afford. 

Thank you.


Maritime and Coastguard Agency blogspot