Source: The Courier-Mail
Alain Delord, the missing yachtie. Photo: Facebook Source: Supplied
THE ANTARTIC cruise ship The Orion is about two hours from reaching a solo round-the-world yachtsman stranded on a life raft in remote waters southwest of Tasmania.
The Orion was expected to reach 63-year-old Alain Delord around 8pm (AEDT) tonight, but a spokeswoman for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) says the ship is battling difficult weather and still 30 miles from the yachtsman.
The Frenchman, who set off at the beginning of October, abandoned his yacht on Friday after it lost its mast and its hull was damaged in rough weather.
The location, about 500 nautical miles southwest of Hobart, is too distant for a helicopter rescue with MSA using three aircraft to maintain contact with the sailor until a vessel can reach him.
The Orion, with 100 passengers and 80 crew on board, was returning from Antarctica and heading for the world heritage-listed Macquarie Island when it responded to the call for help.
It is making a 53-hour detour to reach the Frenchman.
Delord has received an air drop of food, water, communications equipment and a survival suit.
A language barrier has proven to be an issue in getting information from the Frenchman, although AMSA's Dornier aircraft again made contact with him today and he did not report any injuries.
''We've had a couple of difficulties in actually getting information from him because he doesn't speak English,'' AMSA spokeswoman Jo Meehan said.
Ms Meehan said the Orion was the closest vessel and even if a ship had left Hobart, it wouldn't have been able to arrive any sooner.
''We are very grateful to the master and the crew and the passengers of the Orion,'' she said.
She said authorities had the sailor's co-ordinates through the emergency beacon activated at 1pm (AEDT) on Friday, while additional safety and communications equipment has also been dropped to him.
AMSA said yesterday an associate of the sailor contacted them early on Friday morning after the yacht was de-masted.
The Dornier has also been attempting to gain contact with other vessels 100 nautical miles west of the life raft, but their crews don't speak English and the bad weather has meant the vessels' specific call signs can't be identified.
Translators have also been helping issue broadcasts and messages from the rescue co-ordination centre in Canberra to vessels in the area.
Ms Meehan said the yachtsman was well equipped with safety gear, including a survival suit but was battling unfavourable conditions including large swells, 30-knot winds and the cold.
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