MRCC Cape Town, Capt. Naveen Kumar Mehrotra and the crew of DARYA GAYATRI, Kirsten Neuschäfer and Tapio Lehtinen

Nominated for the exemplary coordination of Tapio Lehtinen’s rescue in the Southern Ocean some 500 miles off the coast of South Africa during the Golden Globe Race 2022.

Tapio's quick thinking, prompt and effective action, good communication, and positive attitude, all of which contributed to the swift and safe rescue operation. Tapio Lehtinen's boat took on water at the stern and sank within 5 minutes. Tapio set off his EPIRB, donned his survival suit, grabbed his ditch bag, and deployed his liferaft just before his Gaia 36 Asteria sank. He was rescued from the liferaft by Kirsten Neuschäfer, s/v Minnehaha, (who was about 100 miles distant at the time of the sinking) and was transferred to the bulk carrier M/V Darya Gayatriin 3m seas and 25kn winds. It was a textbook rescue that resulted in swift resolution in the Southern Ocean.