Fred. Olsen's 929-visitor Braemar was cruising from Santa Cruz Tenerife to Bridgetown, Barbados, at a rate of 16.2 Knots, when the officer of the watch spotted the floating cruising yacht Nicollet on the radar, situated in the Atlantic Ocean, ten nautical miles from the cruise ship.
Braemar's officer reached the Nicollet to ensure that everything was all together, since the yacht was floating and no sails were lifted. The yacht affirmed that the steering gear was broken and the ocean anchor had been deployed.
The yacht had been floating for 2.5 days and was on the way from Las Palmas to Dominica. The Nicollet was carrying two travellers, one male and one female, and two male crew members, all of Polish nationality.
The captain of the sailing yacht requested that the cruise ship take the two travellers on board and supply some material for the essential repairs to the Nicollet, which the two crew members would do. Captain Bamberg informed Braemar's ship at into position, prepared to bring down the rescue tender boat.
Tender boat number ten was then launched, with six team members on board. Fred. Olsen's tender boat number 10 conveyed a supply of wood, a hacksaw, two wooden paddles and a box of water to the two crew members staying on board the stricken Nicollet - in spite of the fact that the sailing yacht was filled with enough food and water to last up until three weeks and the two travellers were transferred to the tender boat and taken to Braemar.
Following a full safety inspection and medical check, it was established that the two passengers were Polish nationals and in good health.
Captain Robert Bamberg, master of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines' Braemar added that the sea conditions at the scene were very challenging, with three to five metres of swell, so in order to be able to carry out a rescue operation in such circumstances everyone must know exactly what to do.
Following her rescue by Fred. Olsen's Braemar and subsequent repairs, the Nicollet was able to continue her voyage to Dominica.
It is expected that the two passengers from the Nicollet will stay on board Braemar until Dominica, where they will re-join the repaired yacht. Braemar will arrive in Bridgetown, Barbados on December 31st 2015, where she will stay overnight, to see in the New Year in genuine Caribbean style.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
