'We had to get it right first time', RAF airman says on Atlantic rescue mission
Military personnel involved in a life-saving Atlantic rescue said "we nailed it" due to practice and knowing they "had to get it right".
Footage released earlier in the week showed the moment two RAF aircraft went to rescue a distressed sailor after his yacht lost its mast in stormy seas – 700 nautical miles away from land in the Atlantic Ocean.
Loadmaster Flight Sergeant Joe Ainsworth, who was a part of the Atlas A400M crew that dropped its Air Sea Rescue Apparatus (ASRA) – used for the first time from the A400 – told BFBS Brize Norton: "I think we nailed it, to be honest, I think everything went pretty well... most of us are relatively experienced in practising the ASRA drop profile, spending plenty of time in the Falklands."
Flt Sgt Joe Ainsworth added: "On the way out on the day as well, it was quite a long transit so we had time to really think through how we were going to do it.
"We also knew we had to get it right first time, so we took a few practice attempts before we actually dropped it because we wanted to make sure when we did it, we got it right because we only have so much kit on board."
Watch: RAF goes to rescue of stricken yachtsman in Atlantic sea.
RAF crews located the sailor midway between the UK and Greenland as his damaged yacht struggled in six-metre-high waves, before dropping specialist rescue equipment including an inflatable life raft and survival gear, by parachute.
The crews later helped merchant ships locate the yacht and bring the sailor to safety.
Two RAF aircraft took part in the rescue mission, the Atlas A400M transport aircraft from RAF Brize Norton, and a Poseidon P8 submarine hunter aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth which is equipped with surveillance and search and rescue equipment.
Flight Lieutenant Mainwaring, captain of the Atlas, described his enormous sense of relief at a successful rescue, adding: "The team at RAF Brize Norton was simply superb today, it really felt like they were propelling us into the air with a shared sense of purpose and mission.
"Similarly, knowing the Poseidon was on station provided not only a huge amount of additional capability but also reinforced that the RAF team was collectively working to rescue this stranded individual."
Flt Lt Mainwaring went on: "There was huge relief when we confirmed the location of the yacht. There was a sense of purpose as we prepared to release the rescue equipment because you only get one chance to get it right.
"Seeing the yachtsman recover the equipment we dropped was a huge relief.
"I am incredibly proud of Team Atlas today, with the whole force helping to deliver emergency equipment at very short notice and under challenging conditions."
He added: "It is a timely reminder of why we hold constant readiness and of the tremendous reach and capabilities of the Atlas aircraft."
Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, Chief of the Air Staff, congratulated the RAF teams and offered his thanks to everyone involved in the rescue, saying they displayed outstanding teamwork and saved the yachtsman's life.
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