Hans J Marter

25 May, 2007

A SHETLAND sailor was reunited with his yacht yesterday morning (Wednesday) half a year after he had to abandon her 300 miles off the south west coast of Australia.

Andrew Halcrow and his 12 year old son Lowrie anxiously watched as the 32ft steel hulled yacht Elsi Arrub was lifted off the Shetland Line cargo boat Georg Mitchell, at Garthspool, in Lerwick.

An international search and rescue operation sprang into action just before Christmas last year when 49 year old Mr Halcrow fell seriously ill with acute appendicitis half way through a non stop round the world sailing attempt.

Luckily he was picked up by a passing bulk carrier and then airlifted to Albany, in Western Australia, where he underwent a live saving emergency operation.

His much loved, home made yacht was left floating in the Southern Ocean after breaking her tow line and was only rediscovered eight weeks later when the Australian Coastguard was looking for another missing yacht.

Yesterday, after two month long odyssey onboard four different cargo ships, Elsi finally arrived back home.

Mr Halcrow said he was grateful for being alive and all the help he had received over the last six months, adding that he was not ruling out a second attempt at circumnavigating the globe single handed.

"It is great to see her back in Shetland. It could have easily gone the other way. It was just an outside chance that she might be spotted floating in the Southern ocean. It really is tremendous," Mr Halcrow said.

"If the bulk carriers had not been in the area when I had my burst appendix, then that would have been it. I would not be here. And if the Australian Coastguard had not been looking out for an American sailor in trouble, they would not have spotted Elsi Arrub, and she would probably not be here. Funny how it all has worked out."

The vessel itself survived the ordeal in surprisingly good shape. Mr Halcrow said he would have to spend the next few weeks fixing her up again before taking her on some summer cruises around the isles.

And he added: "I am very happy with what I have achieved and I know in my own mind that if the appendix had not burst, I would have gone on and come through okay. The boat was fine and up to that point I was fine.

"Doing it again, is an option, but we will have to wait and see. If I never did it again, I will be happy, and if I did it, I will be happy."

Lowrie who flew out to Australia with his father in February this year when Elsi Arrub was towed into Albany port, said he was very proud of his father.

"I feel he would have achieved what he wanted to do if he had not fallen ill. It really is good to get the boat back."