Australian video bloggers Riley Whitelum and Elayna Carausu have been documenting their travels through their channel, Sailing La Vagabonde, but a recent accident in Tonosho, Kagawa, has concerned viewers about their safety.
According to the Shodoshima Coat Guard, the accident occurred around 2:40 A.M. on 4 November 2024. The emergency report mentioned that a fishing boat collided with a yacht belonging to Sailing La Vagabonde.
The fishing boat captain called 118 for assistance, as they had crashed into the yacht anchored about 150 meters Southwest of the western end of Okinoshima in Tonosho Town.
Further, police confirmed that two people were on the fishing boat, including the 70-year-old captain, whereas the yacht held five adults and two children.
Fans quickly recognized the yacht from the accident and contacted the Sailing La Vagabonde family to ensure their well-being.
Soon, the bloggers mentioned that there had been no water or oil leakage on either boat due to the collision. According to the coast guards, all the passengers were safely transported away from the sea.
The fishing boat initially departed from Shikai Fishing Port, aiming for bottom trawl fishing and planning to sail towards the fishing grounds off the coast of Chifuri Island.
However, legal reasons have prevented the media from revealing the accident’s actual cause.
Meanwhile, the Sailing La Vagabonde team was preparing to take off the sea by dropping an anchor near Okinoshima and continue their journey towards the Hiroshima Prefecture in the second week of November.
Sailing La Vagabonde’s journey has been halted indefinitely following the recent accident!
Following the sea incident, the family posted on Facebook to ensure fans about their safety and thanked everyone for sending heartfelt messages. Previously, they uploaded a YouTube video to announce their trip to Japan.
Riley from Sailing La Vagabonde detailed the event and mentioned that the family was asleep when the fishing boat struck the yacht. The incident shook his children to their core, and they refused to go back to sleep.
Adding to his public statement, he wrote, “We recently experienced the most harrowing ordeal of our lives. As we process and recover from this incident, we kindly ask for your patience as we take some time to assess the situation.“
Moreover, Riley mentioned that the Japanese news had missed a few details in their reports as their yacht had endured extensive damage. However, the Coast Guard has yet to confirm such information from the team.
The Sailing La Vagabonde will be under surveillance for a few weeks as they manage the legal procedures and settle the damage fees among the involved parties.
Fans have supported the team during the difficult period and prayed for a speedy recovery.
Similarly, others have requested the team take safety measures in their upcoming trips, writing, “All that matters is everyone is safe. I just finished watching your Hiroshima video, and it’s hard to believe. What a scary situation to be in. Take time to regroup and be with your family.“
Additionally, the team started the channel in 2014 and has generated income from crowdfunds on Patreon. However, the accident in Japan could result in one of the most significant career setbacks, as the event has had financial effects.
Additional Information
- As of 2024, the Sailing La Vagabonde channel had over 1.85 million subscribers and has been listed as one of the most popular sailing YouTube channels. Between 2014 and 2022, the team sailed over 160,000 kilometers, including Atlantic and Pacific ocean crossings.
- The channel received international media attention as they joined Greta Thunberg from Virginia to Lisbon for the Madrid United Nations Climate Change Conference.
