On October 6, the Quantum Leap, a 48-foot sailing yacht, was adrift in the Pacific Ocean with an injured captain on board. Twelve hours later, Captain Konstantinos Patsoulas brought the Celebrity Century to the side of the distressed vessel, sheltering it from the wind and waves. A rescue team boarded a powered lifeboat and brought all three men safely on board. “I’ve always known that the officers and crew across the Celebrity fleet are heroes,” said Daniel Hanrahan, president and CEO, Celebrity Cruises. “I know I speak for everyone at Celebrity when I extend enormous thanks and congratulations to Captain Patsoulas and the entire crew onboard Celebrity Century. They have made all of us – and clearly, the guests onboard – very proud.” The vessel’s owner, Phillip Johnson had left San Diego, California, with his nephew and a friend on board. They were heading for Hawaii when yacht’s generator and backup battery died. Then, rough seas struck the vessel when Johnson was in the galley, and he suffered serious internal injuries. Using a satellite phone, the crew members called the U.S. Coast Guard in Honolulu where a flight surgeon said Johnson would have to get off the boat and into a hospital as soon as possible. Because the Quantum Leap was 700 nautical miles northeast of the island of Hawaii, the distance was too great for a helicopter rescue. However, the Celebrity Century, which was bound for Hilo, Hawaii, responded immediately to the Coast Guard’s call for assistance, diverted from its planned course and sailed to the rescue. “We are truly thankful for your selfless efforts. Your unselfish devotion to aid others in distress upholds the highest principles and traditions of maritime service,” said a Coast Guard representative after the rescue. A retired U.S. Navy commander who was a passenger onboard the Celebrity Century, later wrote to the captain, saying, “You and your crew should be extended the highest accolades for your daring and most courageous rescue of the captain and crew of ‘Quantum Leap’ on October 7. Your ship handling expertise in keeping two small boats in the lee to accommodate the safest possible conditions was exceptional. Your crew of the small boat exercised the soundest and most extraordinary boat handling to affect the most timely transfer of personnel between two small boats in 8- to 10-foot seas that I have ever seen. Bravo Zulu [a naval signal meaning “well done”] to you and your entire crew for a task well done.” In an interview with the Hawaii Tribune-Herald while recuperating in a Hawaii hospital, Johnson said, “Everyone onboard was so wonderful to us. I simply can’t say enough thank-yous. They saved our lives.” Johnson added that he wanted to get back out to sea again – but this time on a cruise aboard the Celebrity Century.