By: Roger Green
Veteran round-the-world yachtsman David Longstaff has told how he survived a mid-Atlantic collision with a giant whale and finally managed to reach the safety of Lagos Marina in the Algarve in his damaged boat.
In an exclusive interview with the Algarve Resident, 75-year-old David, who has sailed more than 60,000 nautical miles over the past 20 years in trans-Atlantic crossings and circumnavigations, said: “I felt the boat vibrate with the impact and I saw the whale’s tail pass by on the port side and then disappear.
“It was a frightening experience because I knew of a story in which a boat similar to mine but more modern and lightly built had sunk after hitting a whale.
“But I felt confident because my boat, a 45 foot Jeanneau Sunkiss Yacht, which I had bought in 1992, was built in 1988 and I was convinced it was sturdy and strong enough to withstand the force of the collision.
“I had set sail from Bermuda and was on my way from Horta in the Azores when it happened. The propeller shaft was badly damaged so I was without engine power and the rudder was also damaged so I was sailing on the wind and steering was difficult.
“We finally managed to sail to Cape St Vincent and I contacted the maritime authorities, who guided me to the Lagos Marina and the marina’s boatyard where the repair work has been carried out by experts.”
David, who hails from Cambridge, plans to stay on his boat in Lagos for the next three months, and is considering dropping ‘permanent anchor’ in the Algarve.
“I have sailed the world for some 20 years and have seen some wonderful places and stayed in them sometimes for long periods, and I have some unforgettable experiences and memories, but I have got to the point where I would like to have a nice little place where I can put my boat, talk to other sailors and have my three kids and five grand-children visit me and I can take them sailing.
“Lagos could well be the ideal spot. The Portuguese were great navigators and I feel a certain empathy for those great sailors. You get a feel about a place and here in Lagos I sense the history of those mariners of yesteryear.”
David’s love of the sea and sailing started as a boy, when his father sent him to nautical college on the training ship Mercury and he spent four years as a deck officer with the Merchant Navy.
He was also twice British national champion in the Tempest keel boat racing class, and in 1992 took part in the Arc Race from the Canary Islands to St Lucia in the Caribbean with his daughter Clare helping to crew. He holds a Yachtmasters Ocean Certificate and is qualified to provide on-board sailing instruction.
After a successful business career which started from the age of 22 and saw him build up a takeaway food company and then a commercial refrigeration company, both of which he sold, David retired and returned to the sea.
Since 1992, he has sailed the world and visited some of the most exotic places on the planet.
His itinerary embraces Australia, New Zealand, the Caribbean, The Polynesian Islands, The Maldives, Indonesia, The Azores, Sri Lanka and countless other destinations.
One of his most memorable experiences was anchoring off the famous Galapagos Islands, where he stayed for a month to admire the wonderful nature.
“I have never hesitated to go to interesting places if I see that navigation is feasible. The past 20 years have been fascinating. I have seen such a lot of the world and have had the time and good health to enjoy unforgettable experiences.
He added: “I have taken 20 years to achieve all that, getting right down to Australia and New Zealand, and I wouldn’t have missed it for anything. It’s a sailor’s dream to sail under Sydney Bridge for the first time.”
