A review of “It quickly becomes clear that things are not good…” (Yachting World, 19 June 2025): read the full article here.

The story begins like many cruising narratives: anchored in paradise, routine evening aboard, dinner, games, sleep. The couple, Miranda and Elliot, have sailed over 14,500 miles and refitted their steel‑hulled Mason 48 for remote cruising with upgrades like solar, a watermaker, and multiple sail options. 

Around 1:30AM, Elliot wakes with paralysis on his right side, a sign of a possible stroke. At first, he downplays it, searching for aspirin, but the situation deteriorates. Medical emergencies are not unheard of at sea, but the symptoms of a stroke can be subtle and ambiguous at first. Miranda quickly realizes this is a genuine emergency. 

With no aspirin on board (the one medicine that can be critical in early stroke care), they confront a frustrating reality: they have an extensive medical kit, but not the one thing they need. Miranda describes the moment as devastating, surrounded by drugs they can’t use. Miranda attempts a Mayday call on VHF. A Mayday call is powerful, but it doesn’t guarantee immediate nearby help, especially in remote anchorages with few vessels or low radio traffic. No one responds to her call. This was a stark, frightening moment where she felt utterly alone.

As dawn breaks, she learns the local search and rescue will come… not by air, but by boat from Sorong, Indonesia, nearly 9 hours away. They also organise two volunteer cruisers to sail their vessel back to safety so that Miranda can accompany Elliot to the hospital. 

Eventually, a rescue boat reaches them, evaluates Elliot, and they are medevac’d to a hospital. Weeks later, he fully recovered, despite not receiving aspirin for nearly 36 hours. This outcome was fortunate, and the story makes it clear how every small decision and preparedness step contributed to survival. I read this article months ago, and it has stuck with me. Here are my key takeaways, and the steps we’re taking aboard Sabado to be better prepared for an emergency like this:

1. Invest in Reliable Long‑Range Communication

Starlink enabled real time communication with rescue and medical professionals. Without it, the emergency could have been far worse. Starlink is no longer a luxury gadget. It is a critical safety tool. For additional reliability, consider carrying an inReach or a similar satellite messenger as a backup. Iridium GO is a popular option that offers more than global voice and messaging. It also supports GEOS emergency services, providing worldwide SOS activation and coordinated emergency response when help is needed in remote locations, which is something that Starlink does not have, and is why we continue to use the Iridium service. It is also easy to take off the boat with you for dinghy/shore excursions.

2. Build a Comprehensive Medical Kit

Know what medications and equipment are critical, learn how and when to use them, and label/organize everything clearly for quick access in a crisis. 

3. Understand the Limits of VHF and Mayday

A Mayday call is vital but not infallible. In remote anchorages, VHF channels might be unused or chaotic, and other cruisers may not be listening. Consider dedicated channels for overnight listening and always carry redundant alert methods (EPIRB, AIS, satellite comms). 

4. Keep Emergency Contacts Handy

Miranda had to scroll through emails to find insurance telehealth contacts. Print, save to your contacts, or write on a notepad near your medical bag:

• Insurance emergency numbers
• Local SAR contacts
• Closest port/marina numbers
• Cruising group contacts 

5. Plan for the Unexpected: Prepare the Boat Too

The short operational videos Miranda recorded for the volunteer crew were a brilliant idea, but I’m not sure most people could do that in the middle of a crisis. Once we finish the electrical refit on Sabado, I plan to put together a clear, straightforward operations binder so that, if needed, almost anyone could step aboard and safely run the boat. It will cover basics like raising the anchor, starting the generator, checking fuel levels, operating the watermaker, and locating all emergency gear.

Miranda and Elliot’s experience is a powerful reminder that even the most capable, well-prepared sailors can find themselves facing the unexpected. I hope you found this write-up helpful, and that their story encourages you to take a fresh look at your own systems, plans, and readiness, before you ever need them. If nothing else, it’s a reminder that learning from others’ experiences is one of the greatest advantages we have as sailors.