The Golden Globe Race has not been able to contact Lehtinen.
Tapio Lehtinen photographed in 2020. Tiina Somerpuro
A round-the-world sailor Tapio Lehtinen a distress signal has been sent from the ship, Golden Globe Race says on Facebook.
The Golden Globe Race has not been able to contact Lehtinen. The distress signal has been sent from the Indian Ocean about 720 kilometers southeast of Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
The South African authorities are assisting in the rescue mission, Golden Globe race says.
Sailing around the world
The Golden Globe Race is a sailing competition where competitors sail alone around the world. There are a total of 16 participants in the competition this year.
Lehtinen, 64, from Helsinki, has been sailing since he was six years old. Her children Lauri Lehtinen and Silja Lehtinen are both Olympic sailors. Silja Lehtinen’s boat crew won bronze at the London Olympics in 2012.