Captain Fantastic

A BORN and bred Northsider has been hailed a hero after he captained the cruise ship which came to the dramatic rescue of a sailor in Antarctica.

Mick Taylor, who is originally from Raheny, became a global legend after his skilled and valiant efforts saved lone French sailor Alain Delord, who clung to a life raft for three days in the Southern Ocean after his yacht sank.

Mick, also known as Mike, and his crew on the Antarctic cruise ship MV Orion, which was carrying 100 passengers, answered the distress call and made a two-day diversion to rescue Delord.

Northside People spoke to Mick’s proud sister Linda Taylor, from Coolock, who had been following the events of the rescue as it unfolded over the weekend of January 20.

“I couldn’t believe when I was watching and reading about the attempt to rescue the sailor that it was my big brother who was captaining the rescue ship,

? she said.

“It was so exciting but very serious at the same time to think someone’s life hung in the balance.

“Were it not for my brother and his ship getting to the sailor as quick as they did – and even at that it took 53 hours – I don’t think that sailor would have survived another night.

?

The dramatic rescue took place on Sunday, January 20, just 30 minutes before darkness descended and the stranded yachtsman faced a third night adrift at sea.

Delord was attempting to sail solo and without assistance around the world when his yacht was damaged in rough weather off southern Australia’s Tasmania island on Friday, January 18.

Authorities had been able to drop food and water to him but his location was too remote for a helicopter rescue.

As the world watched and waited, Mick and his crew courageously battled worsening weather in their 1,125-mile diversion before they reached Delord and were able to pluck him from the icy waters.

While Mick has been hailed a hero worldwide, most reports in the media have wrongly reported him as being a British national.

“I had been emailing Mick throughout the weekend as I was following his progress on the internet,

? Linda explained.

“After the rescue I emailed Mick, who was preparing to return home, to tell him how proud I was of him.

“Of course, I’d never tell him that face-to-face but that’s just the way we are with each other.

“I joked that even though he was my hero he was still my twat of a big brother. He replied saying that I should refer to him as

‘Mr Twat’ and that he hoped his newfound fame would get him an upgrade on his flight home.

“He also mentioned how he’d got a few grey hairs because of the experience.

“He’s been praised worldwide but there’s been no mention of him here in Ireland even though he’s from Dublin,

“I just thought if he’s going to have 15 minutes of fame he’d better get it in his home country too.

?

Mick has lived in Miami with his wife Marilynn for more than 10 years. According to his proud sister, he only ever wanted to be a captain.

“After the Leaving Cert he went straight into nautical college and then worked on cargo ships before he got his master’s licence,

? Linda stated.

“Being the captain of a ship was all he ever wanted to do.

“Ironically, he can barely drive a car. He’s a really rubbish driver and failed his test so many times.

“I don’t know if he’d ever have got his licence were it not for the Government’s move to give out thousands of driving licences in the 1970s to clear the backlog of those waiting for tests.

?

Mick’s sailing skills were put to the test in what was an experience of a lifetime.

Unfortunately, some of the passengers of Orion were less enamoured by the adventure and rescue mission and, according to Linda, are believed to be demanding a refund for the two days’ unplanned diversion.

“It really was an adventure of a lifetime, especially for Mick who wasn’t even supposed to be working at the time,

? Linda added.

“He had been called to work to cover for another captain. It really is remarkable how it all worked out.

?