The sailing community is mourning the loss of Dag Eresund, a 33-year-old Swedish sailor, who went overboard during the 2024 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC).
The alarm was raised at 2:30 AM on December 2, triggering an extensive search led by the U.S. Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) in Norfolk, Virginia.
Sean Devaux, General Manager of the IGY Marina, says the organisation is aware of the somber atmosphere following Eresund’s passing and will be respectful as the ARC party begins making landfall in Saint Lucia later this week.
“It’s an unfortunate incident and we are just working closely with all the agencies and World Cruising Club to ensure that their arrival is as respectful as possible. Obviously it’s a difficult time for the whole crew on board and so we’re just following the lead of the World Cruising Club,” Devaux told St. Lucia Times.
The search included the participation of nearby vessels, such as the Vismara 62 Leaps & Bounds 2 and the 88m superyacht Project X. Despite 19 hours of intensive effort, worsening weather and fading daylight forced authorities to halt the operation.
Eresund, who was wearing an automatic inflatable lifejacket with a personal AIS beacon, was part of the crew aboard Ocean Breeze, a high-performance Volvo 70 yacht with a storied racing history in the Volvo Ocean Race.
In Saint Lucia, the local organisers say that traffic at the marina is increasing in anticipation of vessels’ arrival throughout mid-December as the island once more hosts the finish line.
Devaux says the goal is to host a successful finish port while being cognisant of the loss of life. “Overall, the marina is shaping up. It’s already getting busy. There’s already a buzz building. But again, it’s a somber year, obviously. So there’s a balance there that you kind of have to be respectful because, yes, all the vessels, including the vessel within the situation, have accomplished something magnificent in terms of crossing the Atlantic,” he says.
While acknowledging that similar incidents have occurred in the past, Devaux notes the organisation continues to respond appropriately in any given situation. “It’s not an isolated year. We’ve had these types of incidents, not necessarily identical to this, but the unfortunate circumstances of loss of life, which we have had to navigate collectively between the World Cruising Club and ourselves,” he notes.
The yacht, participating in the ARC’s IRC racing division, was equipped with the highest safety standards, as required by the World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations for Category 1 events. The incident occurred aboard the Volvo 70 Ocean Breeze, approximately 1300 nautical miles east of Bermuda, in challenging conditions with winds of 20-30 knots.
RIP