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A New Zealand yachtie sailing from Fiji to New Zealand has been found alive and well after his wrecked boat was washed ashore near Norfolk Island.
Rewi Kemp, in his 60s, was presumed to be dead after pieces of his yacht, the Moonshadow, were found in Cemetery, Emily and Slaughter Bays on Norfolk Island.
But after just one and a half hours of searching, police and rescue teams found Mr Kemp uninjured sitting on a rock on Nepean Island, a small uninhabited island off Norfolk Island, Norfolk Island Tourism general manager Terry Watson said today.
New Zealand Search and Rescue had contacted Norfolk Island Police last weekend to look out for Mr Kemp's yacht which was two weeks overdue.
Mr Kemp told his rescuers his yacht had had electrical problems and he decided to travel to Norfolk Island to tell everyone he was ok.
But while sailing at night without navigation aids the boat hit rocks at Nepean Island.
Mr Kemp was thrown into the water and made it ashore where he waited to be rescued.
Norfolk Island Police Chief Ed Sjollema said the local searchers' skills and knowledge had enabled a quick and successful search.
Mr Kemp will fly home to fly to New Zealand on Sunday.
- NZPA
