A pair of sailors made a stunning discovery when they stumbled upon a drifting 'ghost ship' previously thought to have sank in 'appalling' weather near the mysterious Bermuda Triangle.
In February 2013, the yacht owned by an Irish Yacht Club member, was sailing 70 miles north of the island in the North Atlantic Ocean when it was battered by 20 foot waves and had to be abandoned.
The US Coast Guard was scrambled to the scene and two merchant vessels were diverted from their courses, reaching the distressed sailing boat and taking the four crew on board in "appalling conditions.," according to Sail World.
READ MORE: People divided over 'freak' pub boss' controversial choice to chuck out Coke drinker
Battered by 50 knot winds and huge waves, the 48–foot Irish yacht suffered had both power and engine failures, but it hadn't sank as previously thought.
Recently, two Ocean Research Project workers found the vessel drifting in the North Atlantic, 800 miles from Bermuda with "no sign of anyone" on board.
Experienced sailor Matt Rutherford climbed aboard to be greeted by eerie scenes, but managed to avoid his fear of finding a dead body.
He filmed himself as he readied to leave his own vessel, saying: "This is one awfully abandoned sailboat. Wolfhound from the Irish yacht club.
"I have no idea what's inside, I'm going to go and search around and I hope I don't find any dead bodies or anything."
He added afterwards: "No dead bodies, thank God.
"This is absolutely crazy by the way. 800 miles from Bermuda, 1,500 miles from the US, standing on a very nice Swan 48, in the middle of the ocean."
The ship, found over 700 miles from where it was abandoned in 2013, belonged to skipper Alan McGettigan from the Royal Irish Yacht Club.
He and three other crew members were rescued by a cargo ship almost 10 years ago, and left the newly-bought yacht to drift.
To stay up to date with all the latest news, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.
Reportedly lawyers and businessmen, the crew set off from Connecticut in the US heading for Bermuda and then Antigua.
But about 400 miles off the Delaware coast the storm struck and the boat 'lost battery power and suffered mechanical failure' as weather conditions worsened.
A Bermuda coastguard spokesman said the yacht suffered two 'knock-downs' so they put out a distress call.
The rescued yachtsmen reported at the time that the boat had sunk soon after their rescue.
Rutherford began dragging the vessel in an attempt to get it back to dry land, before having to abandon it himself when the load became too much.
Matt had said: "It's kinda funny, 48ft boat with a 42ft boat. We're doing our best trying to get her to Bermuda."
READ NEXT:
'I'm on Death Row in Saudi Arabia with no idea when they plan to cut my head off'
Belarusian soldiers set themselves on fire in bizarre military celebration of strength
Covid outbreak fears as 50% of passengers flying from China to holiday hotspot infected
Source: Read Full Article
