Covid-19: Derry man faces 3,500 mile solo sail home across Atlantic

The 64-year-old, who hails from Culmore, lives aboard his boat - the 43 foot aluminium ‘Kind of Blue’ - but has been stranded at sea by the coronavirus pandemic.

He is currently anchored off Sint Maarten, in the Caribbean.

Hurricane season officially starts on June 1 and the island is “bang in the middle of the hurricane belt” – hit hard by Dorian last year and Irma in 2017. Neighbouring countries and islands that might afford protection are shut.

Garry Crothers’ only safe option is a solo sail home to Ireland. 
With a 3,600-mile non-stop solo sail across the Atlantic ahead of him, he is, to say the least, a little anxious. 
But he has to get moving before the hurricane season.

“I’m in a bad place here, I don’t have any choice,” he says.

It’s reported that an estimated 500 boats are crossing the Atlantic to Europe in the coming weeks. From the South Pacific to the Indian Ocean, thousands of people are trying to sail home or find shelter.

As countries closed borders with the onset of the Covid-19 crisis, numerous vessels were refused entry to their port of call. Even boats that had been safely anchored before the pandemic were suddenly considered a foreign yacht in territorial waters.  
The only place people can expect to be accepted – and, therefore, safe – is their home country. But that presents a problem of epic proportions. Hence, Garry Crothers’ dilemma.
In Sint Maarten, food shops have only recently reopened.

“My other concern is trying to socially distance while getting supplies for the trip,” Garry tells ‘The Guardian’ newspaper. “I’m in the age bracket where I can’t afford to get [coronavirus]. Or to get ill in the middle of the Atlantic.” 
He is an experienced sailor, but hasn’t done a transatlantic alone. The longest single-handed trip he’s done so far is five days.

After a car crash and years of pain, he had his left arm amputated in 2017.

“My biggest worry is fixing things one-handed,” he says. “I’m pretty good, but it’s difficult without dropping things, and trying to hold on to the boat.” 
His first heading will be north, a route many are taking towards Bermuda. Once he has reached the high pressure area, he should pick up westerly winds to sail slowly towards the Azores.

From there, he’ll head for Derry, taking more than three weeks. He knows he has to sail conservatively.

“Because if I go over, that’s it. It’s hard enough for an able man to get back on board – but with one hand?”