A 47-year-old man was rescued from the Atlantic Ocean east of Puerto Rico on Wednesday, Jan.21

Coast Guard, Horten tanker ship recue capsized Belgium rower during World's Toughest Row Race in the Atlantic Ocean
The capsized vessel in the Atlantic Ocean on Jan. 21, 2026.Credit : United States Coast Guard (2)

A solo rower was rescued from the Atlantic Ocean east of Puerto Rico after his boat capsized during a race.

On Wednesday, Jan. 21, a Belgian citizen was brought to safety by the Coast Guard Sector San Juan Command Center Watchstanders and the crew of the Horten Liberian-flagged tanker ship, the U.S. Coast Guard announced in a press release.

Benoit Bourguet was participating in the World’s Toughest Row Race event when his vessel, City of Liverpool, was reportedly hit twice by “two rogue waves and capsized in 13 to 15-foot seas.”

Bourguet, 47, was forced to deploy and board his life raft amid the race, which spans across 3,000 miles, from San Sebastian de la Gomera in Spain to Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua.

Coast Guard, Horten tanker ship recue capsized Belgium rower during World's Toughest Row Race in the Atlantic Ocean

Officials rescuing the Benoit Bourguet in the Atlantic Ocean on Jan. 21, 2026.United States Coast Guard

No other vessels in the race have been reported to be in distress, the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed.

Officials said, “Coast Guard Sector San Juan Command Center watchstanders received an unregistered 406 MHz Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacon EPIRB signal from the City of Liverpool rowboat at approximately 2 a.m. Wednesday, alerting of a possible distress approximately 1,100 nautical miles east of Puerto Rico.”

”Afterwards, Watchstanders received a second 406 MHz emergency distress signal from a personal locating beacon device from the same area,” they continued, per the press release. “Watchstanders were able to contact World’s Toughest Row Race Safety Coordinator, who confirmed they had not been able to contact Bourguet after numerous messages had gone unanswered.”

An Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER) callout was then issued by Watchstanders so that the “1,092-foot Horten tanker and Enhanced Group Calling (EGC)” could “notify other vessels in the vicinity to be on the lookout for distress.”

Coast Guard, Horten tanker ship recue capsized Belgium rower during World's Toughest Row Race in the Atlantic Ocean

The capsized boat in the Atlantic Ocean on Jan. 21, 2026.United States Coast Guard

The rowing vessel Old Sea Dogs, which was a participant in the race, also carried out VHF radio calls to Bourguet but had no response.

However, after the Horten tanker received the AMVER alert, the vessel was able to divert “for over 12 hours transiting approximately 110 miles to the distress signal’s position.”

The tanker had been “transiting on a voyage from Germany of Offshore Guyan.”

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, crews from the Horten tanker ship received regular updates from Watchstanders throughout the operation.

After the Horten tanker ship got closer, they were able to see a survivor on a life raft. They then used a life ring to rescue the individual, who was confirmed to be the rower.

Despite being dehydrated, Bourguet was in overall good condition.

He claimed he had been in distress for around 24 hours and had his capsized vessel connected to the life raft he was on.

“We are very proud of the seamless coordination between our Sector San Juan Command Center Watchstanders and the courageous crew and captain of the motor tanker Horten, which resulted in the successful rescue of a mariner,” said Lt. Kenneth Snyder, Coast Guard Sector San Juan mission coordinator for the case, per the press release. “The Horten’s participation in the AMVER program was critical and the crew’s selflessness and swift response embody the spirit of this voluntary program, where mariners stand ready to help one another.”

The Horten tanker ship and race coordinators will be coordinating Bourguet’s transfer from the ship at a later time.