Search for Missing De Gallant Crew Members Ends

On Thursday, May 23, the France-based company Blue Schooner received official confirmation about the end of the search and rescue operation for the two missing crew members of the sailing boat De Gallant, which sank on Tuesday, May 21. 

The cargo sailboat, carrying eight crew members, went down in the South of the Bahamas after encountering sudden and violent weather despite initially smooth sailing conditions.

On May 21, the United States Coast Guard informed Blue Schooner about the capsize of De Gallant The rescue operation was conducted by the Regional Operational Surveillance and Rescue Center (CROSS) in Miami and CROSS Gris-Nez. Six of the eight crewmembers were successfully airlifted and rescued.

In a press release on Wednesday, May 22, Blue Schooner announced that extensive rescue efforts were deployed to find the two missing crew members of the De Gallant. The search involved two helicopters, a plane, a United States Coast Guard vessel, and a Bahamas patrolling vessel.

Blue Schooner confirmed that the De Gallant, carrying coffee, cocoa, and cane sugar, departed from Santa Marta, Colombia, on May 11, destined for Europe.

De Gallant is a 36.2-meter cargo sailboat with a capacity of 35 tonnes. Built in 1916 and registered in Vanuatu, it was chartered by Blue Schooner for cargo service.