Incident on board Wylde Swan

On 15 August 2010, at 11.20 local time, while Wylde Swan was taking part in the North Sea Tall Ships Regatta, a male Dutch trainee on board Wylde Swan fell overboard. A line was thrown immediately and the man was brought back on board very quickly. Nobody was hurt. The trainee’ parents have been informed.

When the incident happened Wylde Swan was executing a planned gybe-manoeuvre, but the trainee got stuck between the sheet of the forestay-sail and the bulwarks and fell over board. The crew and other trainees all helped to haul the man back on board. He has some light rope burns on his hands but otherwise he feels fine. 

The sea conditions at the time of the incident were moderate and the ship was sailing down wind, gybing to reach the next waypoint during the race, a procedure that had been completed many times during the race already. 

Wylde Swan and her crew is expected to arrive in IJmuiden early morning on 17 August.