Tapio Lehtinen is on a life raft in the Indian Ocean. Ari Huusela has also circumnavigated the globe alone. He knows that the escape has been practiced.
Sakari Lund,
Ossi Saarinen
17:06•Updated 17:15
A solo sailor sailing in the Golden Globe race Tapio Lehtinen bailed out on a life raft on Friday in the Indian Ocean.
Lehtinen had sent an emergency message manually from his boat in the Indian Ocean on Friday morning at 8:54 Finnish time. After that, the race organizers could not contact Lehtinen by satellite phone for hours.
Later came the news that Lehtinen is fine and on a life raft. His Asteria boat has sunk.
Lehtinen, 64, started on September 4 in the Golden Globe, called the world’s most challenging solo sailing competition. It is sailed solo around the globe without stops or modern technology.
Another Finnish sailor Ari Huusela participated in the 2020 Vendee Globe competition. It also sails around the world alone, but it uses modern technology. Today, Huusela has been shocked by the news about Lehtinen’s situation.
– I want to wish strength to Tapio and Tapio’s loved ones. This is a shocking situation for me as well. I can really relate to what kind of conditions Tapio is in and what he is thinking, Huusela told Urheilu.
Although Huusela was at sea with more modern equipment in his own race, he knows what equipment Lehtinen has at his disposal.
– I have also used the same emergency transmitters and survival suits. As an experienced sailor and a super-skilled guy, he will surely survive there. Rescue authorities know their job in those areas.
Lehtinen’s boat sank in five minutes.
– Five minutes is enough to save yourself, once you have prepared and practiced it. I had a list with the most important items. The first thing is to have a rescue kit and a rescue suit on, then you have a good chance of surviving and waiting for help to arrive, Huusela said.
According to Huusela, the rescue kit includes, for example, a satellite phone or similar, a positioning transmitter, emergency rockets, a first aid kit, emergency food and water. Rescue is also practiced.
– Before such a competition, you have to take a survival course, where you go through how to save yourself in the ocean. Tapio has also visited the sea rescue simulator in Lohja, which is a good place to practice. There was wind and waves and dark and rain and you could, for example, practice how to turn the raft, Huusela said.
Lehtinen is on a life raft without glasses, which makes reading and sending messages more difficult. The competitors closest to Lehti are on their way to the Finn.
– There are quite a few ships in the Indian Ocean, but a group is going to Tapio. I bet that within half a day Tapio will be on board the cargo ship.
Huusela and Lehtinen belong to a rare group of people.
– We have both traveled around the world alone without stopping. You can exchange experiences with few people. When I was at sea, we had a phone connection available, I talked to Tapio and I got strength for myself. Now I hope the same for Tapio, Huusela decided.