On 8th March the captain of the Port of Porto Santo and local commander of the Maritime Police, in coordination with the Sub-Centre of Coordination of Search and Rescue of Funchal (MRSC Funchal), coordinated an operation to assist a French sailboat, about 2.5 kms south of the port of Ilha Dourada.
Earlier the two crew members contacted the authorities seeking assistance due to their lack of propulsion and not least because of the sea and wind conditions at the high.
The alert was given by 14:22, and the lifeboat ‘AMN-10-SG BARRACUDA’ and the ‘Comandante Veleiro de Andrade’ pilot vessel were launched immediately.
The vessel was then towed to the port of Porto Santo, and the two crew members were in good health, without the need for any medical assistance.