Famous Russian sailor ‘feared dead off Scotland coast’ after disappearing in major storm
A Russian round-the-world yachtsman[1] is feared lost in storms off Scotland[2]. Roman Titov, 58, has not been heard of since December 21, 2023 in the North Sea, say reports in Russia[3] today. The reports suggest wreckage found this week at Strathan Bay, Lochinver could be the yacht of missing Titov, a reservist lieutenant captain in the Russian navy and former navigator on nuclear submarines.
“On Saturday we received a message from the Scottish police that the wreckage of a ship very similar to Roman’s vessel was found on the coast,” said his manager Alexei Popov, according to RT. “But there is no definite information that it was his yacht that wrecked.” The yachtsman’s son Yegor is seeking help from the Russian Foreign Ministry in clarifying with Scottish police whether the yacht wreck could be Titov’s vessel, named ?????? [Vperyod] – or Forward. Russian reports suggest a body was found linked to the lost yacht off northwest Scotland, although this does not appear to have been announced by the local police. “Egor Titov turned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the police with a request to help find out whether this is really the body of his father,” reported Shot media. “Now all the circumstances and details of what happened are being clarified.”
Russian news outlet RBK reported citing Titov’s manager Popov: “There is no confirmation yet that the yacht that crashed off the coast of Scotland belongs to traveller Roman Titov…. An examination is taking place.” Titov was for the second time attempting a round the world voyage, and had set off from Turkey, according to RT. Two years ago he had miraculously limped into Ullapool 17 days after getting into trouble in the Atlantic, and losing his mast in stormy seas.
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Roman Titov, 58, a former nuclear submarine navigator, is lost off the coast of Scotland (https://yachtingmonthly.com / east2west news)
Associates fear he was seeking to repeat this in the same repaired yacht after once more getting into trouble in the Atlantic – but there is no clear clue if this is correct.
His mast was rebuilt in Scotland. The mast on the newly-stricken yacht “was identified by the manufacturer”. Reports in Scotland said on Tuesday that police divers have been searching the wreckage of a capsized yacht off the coast of Lochinver amid attempts to understand how it sank.
This followed the discovery of debris washed up on the coastline. A mast was spotted by the coastguard 25 yards off shore.
Footage taken moments before yachtsman Titov abandoned the yacht (BigArcticRace/ east2west news)
A police spokesperson said: “Around 12.30pm on Saturday, January 6, we were made aware of a capsized yacht at Strathan Bay, Lochinver. Emergency services attended, including HM Coastguard and RNLI.
Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.” Roman Titov previously got into trouble off the Scottish coast on 1 January 2022, after a round-the-world attempt that had started in Norway. Footage shows the stormy waters 40 minutes before he lost his mast.
The father-of-four gave a dramatic account of his earlier nightmare to Yachting Monthly.
(romantitov.r / east2west news)
“The waves pitchpoled the boat over her bow and onto her starboard side,” he said. “I flew overboard but was held by my harness. As I was wearing six layers of clothing, it was very difficult to climb back on board and my face was wounded in the process.” The mast was broken and his yacht badly damaged but he somehow managed to construct a makeshift mast and sail and head for the Outer Hebrides, 150 miles away, using the pole star. “Of my navigational equipment I was left with a watch, a sextant, two charts (scale 1: 2,000,000 and 1: 5,000,000), two compasses, and two pens,” he said.
After a circuitous journey, and unable to steer the boat to the nearest islands, he eventually made shore in Ullapool 17 days after he got into trouble.