Stranded yachties plucked to safety

The pair sent out a distress call after the vessel started taking in water off the Tauranga coast.

Wind gusts and a heavy swell 74 nautical miles (137km) off the Tauranga coast did not prevent a helicopter medic from landing on a stricken yacht to rescue its two crew.

The men, aged in their 50s and 60s believed to be from the South Island, were winched to safety by Auckland's Westpac Rescue Helicopter at first light on Sunday morning.

But their 43ft ketch, Morning Star abandoned with tattered sails while taking in water, was still giving off positions in the Bay of Plenty yesterday from an emergency locator beacon.

The vessel was on its way from Opua to the Marlborough Sounds when Maritime Radio reported a call at 2.30am on Friday that its engine had broken down 20 nautical miles (37km) east of White Island.

Maritime NZ spokesman Steve Rendle said its skipper was seeking a tow to Whakatane but there were no vessels available to assist him.

Despite being hampered by broken sails, he and his companion struggled throughout Friday and Saturday to reach the coast.

But Mr Rendle said that at 4.10am on Sunday, the pair sent out a Mayday call after the vessel started taking in water and they found their pumps unable to cope. A cargo ship MV Asian Adonis heading from Auckland to Wellington and Lyttelton offered to assist and started steaming to the yacht's position as the Rescue Co-ordination Centre directed the Auckland helicopter to the scene.

Helicopter pilot Rob Anderson said his four-member crew had to fly further off-shore than normally required, but the rescue went without a hitch.

"There is more risk, so it was a rewarding rescue that went to plan with no hiccups." Although the two yachties had launched a life-raft in case they had to abandon ship to make it easier for the helicopter to rescue them from a 3m swell. Mr Anderson said a medic was lowered to the vessel's deck so they could be lifted to safety.

He said there was a strong southwesterly breeze at the time, gusting to about 25 knots.

The pair, despite being exhausted, were unhurt from their ordeal but "very pleased" to be lifted off the yacht and taken to Tauranga.

Mr Rendle said the yacht's locator beacon was yesterday giving its position as about 47 nautical miles (87km) north of White Island.NZME.