Arriving on the scene at dusk, Capt. Sinoy and his crew discovered that the sailing vessels had already sunk and the two crew members of “Stella Cometa” wereadrift in a life raft amidist strong gale wind force 9 with very rough seas. Overcoming the Challenge of the wind and sea and the onset of darkness, the crew of M/V “Daio Azalea”, under the command of Capt. Sinoy, demonstrated exceptional seamanship in conducting the rescue of the two victims, who turned out to be brothers Guido and Riccardo Sassoli of Italy.

Finding the two Italian sailor adrift in a life raft, the crew of M/V Daio Azalea immediately began operations. During the rescue, one of the sailor suffered a minor head injury that rendered him immobile for sometime. After almost four hours of battling 15 foot waves and gustling wind running over 40 knots, M/V Daio Azalea successfully rescued the two Italian yachtsmen living up to the old finest tradition of those who sailed the highest seas – to render aid and assistance to mariners in distress. The two Italian survivors profusely thanked their rescuers afterwards and in their own handwritten note said that “What you have done for us, we hope to have the possibility of doing something for each of you in the future. Your smiles and happy faces, when we reached the deck of your vessels, we will never forget ” The survivors were then taken to the Izmit port in turkey where they were met by Italian authorities.

M/V Daio Azalea, a 40,330 gross tons Wood Chips Carrier of Panamanian registry, and managed by Taiyo Nippon Kisen Co., Ltd., is fully manned by Filipino crews from Ventis Maritime Corporation.,

(By N.F. Tioco, Jr.)