A 10-meter wave crashes over the sailboat Alegría Marineros, forcing an emergency stop in South Africa
- The crew of Vuelta Vertical arrives in Cape Town after 12 days without communication and 1,900 miles of sailing on the high seas at 52º South.
Cape Town | 3 FEBRUARY 2026
The Vertical Round-the-World expedition reports an emergency stop in South Africa after being struck by a 10-meter (30-foot) rogue wave that broke astern of the sailboat Alegría Marineros on January 19 at 10:00 PM UT, at position 52°S – 14°W. They were navigating through icebergs with hurricane-force winds and rough seas (6–8 meters (20–20 feet) in their attempt to reach the Antarctic Circle.
Minutes before the impact, the crew had sent a message of reassurance to their followers: the round-the-world voyage is being broadcast 24/7 on their YouTube channel, and the atmosphere in the chat had intensified due to the heavy swell. In a matter of seconds, the ocean asserted its power.
“With the second wave, everything was white. We were in the sea.” — Paula recounts.
The coup: seven seconds that changed the plan
The wave swept across the deck, and water flooded into the saloon. There were two major jolts: the first ripped and smashed several items on deck; the second, according to the crew, was a moment of complete disorientation.
At the moment of impact, Paula and Ángel were in the cockpit (the deck work area) and were caught off guard by the water, unable to react. Pedro (the captain) was resting in his aft cabin, and Víctor in the starboard cabin; both were thrown to port. Miguel, who was sleeping forward, was hit in his area, although he managed to remain stable.
The expedition confirms that there were no injuries: the entire crew is in perfect health.
Critical damage and loss
The collision left the sailboat without essential equipment to safely continue its journey to Antarctica and maintain operations at sea. Among the main damages:
- Starlink antenna lost → no communication and, above all, no access to weather information.
- Life raft ripped from its frame → an essential piece of equipment for abandoning ship in an emergency.
- Three solar panels broken → significant loss of energy independence.
- Water flooded the saloon (with belongings and books floating).
- Bimini (awning) torn → loss of protection in the cockpit.
Heading to Cape Town and 12 days “like in the old days”
Faced with the loss of key systems, especially communications, meteorology, and safety equipment, the expedition decided to temporarily abort its Antarctic objective and head northeast toward South Africa to repair and replenish supplies.
“In projects like this, retreating isn’t surrendering: it’s a tactical decision. Just as a mountaineer turns back when the risk exceeds their limits, here the sea dictates. Now it’s time to repair, reinforce, and try again,” explains Pedro.
The ship arrived in Cape Town on January 30, after 12 days and 1,900 miles without communication or weather (approximately 3,500 km). The crew describes this leg as a crossing “like in the old days”: without weather reports and without the ability to transmit, in one of the most challenging maritime areas on the planet, where storms swirl around the Antarctic continent and swells can rapidly reach extreme heights.
A project that has already covered 10,500 miles from Castellón
The Vertical Loop has already sailed 10,500 nautical miles since its departure from Castellón de la Plana (approximately 19,450 km), a distance comparable to crossing the Atlantic from east to west about four times or a journey nearly halfway around the world along the equator. In the overall itinerary—which is planned to cross five oceans—the high-latitude stretch around Antarctica is among the most demanding due to wind, sea conditions, and isolation.
Next steps
In South Africa, the team will focus on repairing as much as possible and replacing critical components to restore safety, autonomy, and ocean-going capability. The expedition will issue a further update after a full technical assessment in port.
LINKS:
- Watch the video of the 10-meter wave: VIDEO OLA
- Live YouTube 24/7: vueltavertical.com/virtual
- Web site: www.vueltavertical.com
- Vertical Time: 18:00 UT (19:00 España) daily
FOR INTERVIEWS OR MORE INFORMATION:
SARA, ground communications support
comunicacion@vueltavertical.com
Phone: +34 614 379 580
From “Navegantes Oceánicos” we send our full support to Paula and Pedro, and to the entire Vertical Tour team. We hope they manage to repair and replace the equipment damaged and lost in the 10-meter wave.
Good luck, fair winds, and following seas!
We’re following you!
