Unmanned British sailboat found on Skaftafellsfjara Beach
The yacht was found shortly after noon today. Photo/Icelandic Coast Guard
Around midday yesterday, the Icelandic Coast Guard received a signal from an emergency beacon showing a location near Skaftafellsfjara beach on Skeiðarársandur.
Search and rescue teams were immediately dispatched, and the Coast Guard’s surveillance aircraft TF-SIF, which was already on patrol over the southern part of Iceland’s exclusive economic zone, was redirected to assist in the search.
According to a statement from the Coast Guard, the signal was traced to a British sailing yacht that had encountered trouble near the British Isles on August 18. At that time, three people were rescued from the vessel, which was then left adrift.
On August 18, three people were rescued from the yacht, which was then left adrift. Photo/Icelandic Coast Guard
Drifted to Iceland in just over a month
Shortly after 1 p.m., the crew of TF-SIF located the yacht stranded on Skaftafellsfjara beach, with a rescue boat positioned nearby.
It appears the yacht drifted to Iceland over the course of just over a month before finally running aground on the beach.
Later in the day, a Coast Guard helicopter was sent to the site. A crew member and a police officer from South Iceland went aboard to inspect the vessel and deactivate its emergency beacon.
The next steps regarding the yacht’s removal and handling will be decided in the coming days in consultation with its owners and insurance company.
