Mystery surrounds the discovery of a Russian sailor found alone and drifting in a stolen yacht off the Irish coast. The sailor, who may be suffering from dehydration and malnutrition, may have been without food and water for three weeks while drifting in a tiny yacht in the Atlantic at a time when there were several severe weather systems.
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He was rescued by the Irish Naval Service some 210km off Ireland's south-west coast.
Valdim Smolyak -- who is in his early twenties -- was spotted by marine surveillance some 210 nautical miles off Loop Head. The Irish Coastguard liaised with the Naval Service and made contact with the man.
The authorities also confirmed that the 12-foot yacht had apparently been stolen from the northern French port of Roscoff in early September.
Contact with the Russian was complicated by the fact he was apparently unable to speak -- however, he eventually agreed to leave the yacht and board the the naval patrol ship, LE. Aisling on Thursday. He was taken to Haulbowline naval base in Cork where he was detained pending questioning by gardai.
Navy officials were amazed that he could have spent so long at sea and still managed to remain in such good health. Communication with the man had to be conducted through special language cards.
Gardai will liaise with the French authorities over the man's questioning.
-- The Independent, cited in Sail-World.com:
http://www.sail-world.com/indexs.cfm?nid=37873
