Solo yachtie rescued off Tauranga

10 August 2016

A 55-year-old solo yachtsman has been rescued overnight after his yacht’s steering failed 70km north east of Tauranga.

The man, sailing from Auckland to Dunedin in the 8.8m motor yacht Windsong, activated his distress beacon (EPIRB) at about 8.15pm, and the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) alerted the 266m container ship Kota Loceng, which reached the yacht at approximately 11pm.

The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter also flew to the area to provide communications with the yachtie.

With winds of 35 knots (65km/h) and a swell of 2m in the area, the yachtie was unwilling to risk a transfer to the much larger container ship, which stayed with the yacht until the Coastguard NZ vessel from Tauranga arrived on the scene, about 10km south of Mayor Island, at around 4am.

RCCNZ Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator Geoff Lunt praised the work of the Coastguard crew in bringing the yachtsman aboard in difficult conditions. The man, exhausted but uninjured, was safely ashore in Tauranga shortly after 6am. The yacht has been abandoned and a navigation safety warning has been issued to shipping in the area.

“It was a great effort by the Coastguard, and thanks are also due to the Waikato Rescue Helicopter and the master of the Kota Loceng for their efforts,” Mr Lunt said. “The yachtsman has had a very uncomfortable night but the combined efforts of those involved has meant a potentially very hazardous situation has been resolved relatively quickly.”

ENDS

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