ST. JOHN'S — A sailor was rescued at sea on Wednesday after he set out from Quebec on a solo journey to Greenland and then went missing off the southeast coast of Labrador.
The six-metre sailboat ran into bad weather last week, and surging waves are believed to have knocked out the sailor's electronic systems, said Martin Hurley, the acting deputy superintendent for search and rescue coordination with the Canadian Coast Guard in St. John's.
However, a passing cargo ship was able to pick up the sailboat's distress signals.
"Being found by a passing cargo vessel highlights the importance of all vessels — whether it's cargo ships or coast guard ships — to maintain a listening watch on distress frequencies," Hurley said in an interview Thursday.
"In this case, it proved that listening on a distress channel could save someone's life."
The man, whose identity has not been released, set out in early July from Blanc-Sablon, Que., in his boat called the Tonnerre. He had experience sailing in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, but it's unclear how much time he'd spent in the open ocean, Hurley said.
The man kept family and friends updated on social media, Hurley said. When his posts seem to stop after July 17, someone called authorities in St. John's on Sunday.
Hurley said officials figured out he was off the coast of Cartwright, Labrador, when he made his last post. The coast guard sent several ships and aircraft out to look for him. On Wednesday morning, the Lowlands Century bulk carrier caught the Tonnerre's signal and notified search and rescue officials in Labrador.
A few hours later, he was hoisted out of his boat by a Cormorant helicopter, safe and unharmed, Hurley said.
When the Tonnerre ran into trouble, the forecast was calling for gale-force winds and five-metre waves — almost the length of the boat, Hurley noted. He said the safety requirements for a sailboat are different for sheltered and coastal waters than for oceanic voyages, and those wishing to sail the open ocean should familiarize themselves with those rules.
"It's also crucial to be aware of weather conditions, route planning, and it's important to ensure your vessel is adequately equipped … for the intended voyage," he said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 24, 2025.
The Canadian Press
