Rescued yachtswoman Susie Goodall would do it again ‘in a heartbeat’

The British yachtswoman who was stranded after her boat capsized in the Antarctic Ocean has said would do it again “in a heartbeat”.

Susie Goodall, 29, made the comment after arriving back on dry land in the southern Chilean city of Punta Arenas on Friday.

She wiped back tears as she was welcomed by her mother and brother after 157 days at sea.

The family smiled and hugged before they joined her in an ambulance for a medical check-up in the port city, which is located about 1,200 miles from Santiago.

The yachtswoman had been competing in a 30,000-mile round-the-world Golden Globe Race when her vessel was hit by a “ferocious” storm on 5 December.

Goodall said she was “thrown across the cabin and was knocked out for a while” after her Rustler 36 yacht DHL starlight was destroyed.

The storm ripped off her boat’s mast and caused her boat to capsize.

She was rescued two days later by a 40,000-ton cargo ship.

Goodall wrote on her website: “If you asked me if I would do this again, now knowing what it’s really like, I would say yes in a heartbeat!

“You may ask why?! Some people just live for adventure – it’s human nature. And for me, the sea is where my adventure lies.

“Every seafarer understands the risks involved but that’s what makes us stronger and able to overcome other challenges in life.”

The yachtswoman also thanked her rescuers, and continued: “After arriving in Punta Arenas today, I’m still a little wobbly both emotionally and physically as I find my land legs again.

“I arrived with a heavy heart, no longer a competitor in the Golden Globe Race – but here is certainly a lot better than the alternative.

“And I wouldn’t be here today without the incredible support and seamanship shown by so many people over the past 10 days.”

Goodall, from Falmouth in Cornwall, was lying in fourth place before she lost her mast around 2,000 miles west of Cape Horn near the southern tip of South America.

She tweeted during the storm: “Taking a hammering! Wondering what on earth I’m doing out here”

Four hours later, she said: “Dismasted. Hull OK. No form of jury rig.

“Total loss.”

She was the youngest and only female competitor taking part in the non-stop

A distress signal from her yacht was first picked up by the Falmouth coastguard.

They alerted race control and the Chilean maritime search and rescue authorities responsible for that sector of the Pacific.

The authorities alerted a cargo ship 480 miles (772km) southwest of Goodall’s position and asked for help.

Officials said on the Golden Globe Race website that they had been in regular radio contact with Goodall since she regained consciousness.

Goodall add her online post: “After 157 days alone at sea and a very emotional week to follow, I was fighting back the tears as I stepped off the ship and saw my mum and oldest brother.

“I have put them through a lot, and I know I have a lot of making up to do!

“But I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for believing in and supporting me in the many, many ways they have – thank you.”

She said she did not know what was next on her horizon, apart from spending time with her friends and family over Christmas, but said she still had “fire in her belly”.

(c) Sky News 2018: Rescued yachtswoman Susie Goodall would do it again ‘in a heartbeat’