Rescue Coordination Centre NZ
Media update
8.45pm

The rescue of two people from the yacht Scot Free, which is battling gale-force winds about 740 kilometres northeast of North Cape, is expected to take place early tomorrow morning.

A merchant ship, which is coming to the yacht's rescue, is now expected to arrive in the area between midnight and 2am.

Rescue Coordination Centre Mission Controller John Dickson says it's unlikely the ship will find the yacht in the dark, and, if it did, it would be very difficult to attempt to rescue the crew until first light.

"It's expected the ship, Capitaine Wallace, will wait in the area until the Orion arrives to relocate the yacht. We expect the Orion to arrive at about 8.30am."

ENDS

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