Tuesday morning on the Catalan coast began with a distress signal: on the sail of an old vessel rocking seven kilometers off Arenys de Mar, the words “Hungry and need water” were written in large letters. Passersby in a motorboat couldn’t ignore this cry for help and immediately notified rescuers.
When the rescue team approached, they immediately recognized the vessel and its captain. The 59-year-old Frenchman is no stranger to such incidents. His boat, barely seaworthy, has been both his home and his means of getting around the sea since May. This time, the man spent six days in open water, unable to steer the vessel due to a serious electrical failure. His condition raised concerns, so medics were called in.
Footage taken after the vessel was towed to the port of Arenys de Mar shows the man shirtless, his skin burned by the sun, visibly exhausted. Upon arrival on land, he was immediately examined by doctors and sent to the Mataró hospital showing signs of dehydration.
The story of this sailor began back in May, when the French authorities raised the alarm: the vessel ‘Esteban’ set out from Cap d’Agde towards Barcelona but failed to meet safety standards. On May 16, he was first rescued off the coast of Girona and towed to Palamós. Two weeks later, the boat got into trouble again, this time running aground right on the beach. At that point, the captain refused to leave the vessel and only agreed to a tow after much persuasion.
Later, the vessel was detained in Calonge, where it was found to be unfit for sailing: it had no engine, no steering, and not even electricity. The boat was sent to Roses for repairs, but after some time it was back at sea—once again in distress.
The most recent incident was the most severe: the vessel was nearly destroyed, water was inside, and the captain had to steer manually using a homemade system with a weight just to change course. No one can yet understand how or why the Frenchman keeps going out to sea on this boat. He is called a “homeless sailor”—a man who refuses to give up despite all difficulties.
Currently, Esteban is moored in the port of Arenys de Mar as its owner considers his next step. Questions about his motivations and future remain unanswered, and local authorities are no longer surprised if this sailboat is seen at sea once again.
