OEX Retires With Rudder Post Damage, Crew Returning to Port Aboard Pyewacket

At 0200 PDT Monday morning, theYB race tracking system activated an emergency signal from Santa Cruz 70 OEX, and one hour later Pyewacket contacted us that they had picked up the crew of OEX and all were safe.

We understand from the email communications that the trouble experienced by OEX and cause to abandon ship was due to water ingress due to damage to their rudder post. At this stage we’re not certain about the cause of that damage.

There are no reports of injuries, and all 9 crewmembers from OEX and 10 on Pyewacket are about 200 miles out and are proceeding back to port at about 10-11 knots of speed, so we would expect both crews safely back ashore in less than 24 hours.