Yachtsmen rescued seven times in seven months

Bob Weiss and Steve Shapiro, 71, have been rescued seven times in the past seven months.

The pair of yachtsmen from the US cruised from Scandinavia to North America in July on the sailboat Nora.

They called for rescue teams seven times during the seven-month voyage: in Norway, Denmark, Scotland, Ireland and already twice in Cornwall.

The last time happened on January 19: the Falmouth coastguard sent a rescue boat, which towed «Nora» back to the harbour. The sailboat had an engine failure and was drifting 1.5 miles north of the town of St. Ives.

Falmouth Coast Guard tows Nora sailboat to St. Ives.

The sailboat's owners, screenwriter Steve Shapiro and former U.S. Air Force helicopter pilot Bob Weiss, intend to continue the voyage across the Atlantic Ocean after the ship is repaired. « Nora» appeared to have a broken driveshaft and a faulty battery.

Some witnesses to their rescue speculate that the yachtsmen were simply not experienced enough for such a voyage. But that's not according to the story's heroes.

They told journalists that they were just unlucky. Steve Shapiro noted that «Nora» is «a very safe and reliable» boat, and he himself has been sailing since he was nine years old.