Italian yacht rescue underway

DATE: 6 APRIL 2009 TIME : 2.15 PM

Italian yacht rescue underway

The Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) is coordinating the rescue of two Italian sailors more than 2,000 nautical miles east of New Zealand.

The sailors, on board Onitron a 34-foot Italian-registered yacht, made a mayday call to MRCC Chile, Chile’s search and rescue service, at 5.18 am today. The two men told MRCC Chile they were in distress as their steel-hulled yacht has become dis-masted. Their motor was also out of action. MRCC Chile passed the search and rescue over to RCCNZ at 5.22 am.

RCCNZ has located and been in contact with the nearest known vessel, the oil tanker Hellespont Trooper/V7IH3, currently 800 nautical miles from the yacht. The oil tanker is now making its way towards the yacht, and is expected to arrive in about two-and-a-half days.

The Onitron’s position is just over 2,000 nautical miles east of New Zealand, half way between New Zealand and Chile. The yacht is located at the eastern extremity of New Zealand’s search and rescue region. The two men, aged 34 and 64, are experienced sailors and are in good health.

The men are equipped with an eight-person life raft, a 406 MHz EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon), an Iridium satellite telephone, and are estimated to have food and water for 7 to 10 days. The men have not activated their distress beacon, but are likely to do so if they lose contact via satellite phone, or if their situation changes. There are 40–45 knot winds on scene, with seas of 6–7 metres, abating. Visibility is clearing.

The men are in good spirits and are keeping in contact with RCCNZ via satellite phone. After the oil tanker reaches them, their likely destination is Argentina.

ENDS