Falklands : Yeates' Second Attempt at Antarctic Circumnavigation Ends in Failure
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Phillip Stevens) 19.02.2006 (Article Archived on 05.03.2006)
It's second time unlucky for Colin Yates.
YEATES’ SECOND ATTEMPT AT ANTARCTIC CIRCUMNAVIGATION ENDS IN FAILURE
By J. Brock (FINN)
Friday night’s Force-8 gales proved to be too much for Colin Yeates, who had set off from Stanley on Friday in a second attempt to circumnavigate Antarctica in a rowboat. According to Fisheries Operations, who had promised to track Mr. Yeates’ progress, the Force-8 gale capsized his boat several times.
The fishing vessel, DORADA, was tasked to pick Mr. Yeates, who by this time had become concussed, up and take him to safety.
The 47, said he wanted another chance to circumnavigate Antarctica this year and had a harrowing backwards and sideways journey the first time, Mr. Yates had hoped he could be towed far enough away from the Falklands to leave the coastal pull that scuppered his first attempt in January but even with the extra distance he couldn’t cope with the gale-force winds.
After retrieving his boat, a survey of the damage was made and the Kevlar skin was found to be intact. Epoxies flown in by Lan put the boat back to seaworthy condition, only to have it capsize several times on the second attempt.
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