Shipwrecked sailors take another shot at Newport Bermuda Race

Key Points:

• During the 2024 Newport Bermuda Race, the sailboat Alliance struck a submerged object, causing severe hull damage and forcing its nine crew members into emergency evacuation amid rough seas and no immediate Coast Guard assistance.
• The Alliance crew, well-prepared through extensive training and safety courses, executed a calm and efficient evacuation, aided by nearby competitors Banter and Ceilidh, who rescued all crew members despite challenging conditions.
• Two years after the incident, crew members Lydia Mullan and Sam Webster are returning to the Newport Bermuda Race aboard Banter, symbolizing both a continuation of their sailing journey and a personal effort to overcome trauma from the sinking.
• The Newport Bermuda Race is a grueling 636-nautical-mile offshore competition, known for its difficulty and history as the oldest regularly scheduled ocean race, testing sailors' endurance and skill far from shore.
• Mullan has managed post-traumatic stress symptoms following the disaster by seeking therapy and returning to sailing, emphasizing the importance of confronting and "rewriting" difficult experiences through continued engagement with the sport.