TOPAZE

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Demasted yacht towed to safety

The U.S. Coast Guard, British Virgin Islands Royal Marine Police, and Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard air and surface units rescued the French skipper Frank Rouvray, 58, of the 'Topaze' in Eastern Caribbean waters northeast of Anegada, British Virgin Islands, on June 10, 2025. He was on a voyage to the island of Saint Martin when the vessel became demasted. Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan received a distress alert on the morning from a 406 MHz EPIRB. The alert was located approximately 33 nautical miles northeast of Anegada. The weather on-scene was reported as seven to nine-foot seas with 21 knot winds. Watchstanders issued an UMIB and an Enhanced Group Call to alert any vessels to be on the lookout for a possible distress. A Coast Guard MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Borinquen responded to search for any signs of a possible distress, while a Royal Marine Police surface unit also responded. Once in the vicinity, the Coast Guard aircrew detected the location of the distress signal and was able to establish communications with Rouvray aboard the sailing vessel, who indicated the vessel had also run out of fuel. Despite a language communication barrier with the mariner, the Coast Guard aircraft remained on-scene, until it was temporarily relieved by a Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard fixed-wing aircrew to refuel. After refueling, the Coast Guard aircrew returned and reestablished air coverage of the 'Topaze' until the Royal Marine Police surface unit arrived on scene. The Royal Marine Police crew successfully established a towline for the vessel and safely towed the yacht to a safe harbour in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. Report with photos: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4213393/coast-guard-dutch-caribbean-coast-guard-british-virgin-islands-royal-marine-pol/