An abandoned yacht is still transmitting its position at sea in the Bay of Plenty after a dramatic helicopter rescue in which its two crew were winched to safety.
The pair, believed to be two men aged in their fifties and sixties, were lifted off the 44ft ketch Morning Star at first light on Sunday morning by Auckland's Westpac Rescue Helicopter.
A medic was lowered down to their deck of the stricken yacht to assess their condition before they were winched to safety about 74 nautical miles (137 kilometres) northeast of Tauranga.
They were taken to Tauranga for further medical assessment, but they were uninjured.
Spokesman Steve Rendle said today that Maritime Radio recorded a call from the ketch at 2.30am on Friday, after the yacht's engine broke down during a trip from Opua to the Marlborough Sounds.
Its skipper was seeking a tow to Whakatane from about 20 nautical miles east of White Island, but there were no vessels available in the area to assist them.
The crew tried to reach the coast throughout Friday and Saturday despite being hampered by broken sails, Mr Rendle said.
At 4.10am on Sunday, they made a Mayday call after their vessel started taking in water, and their pumps were unable to cope.
A cargo ship MV Asian Adonis heading from Auckland to Wellington and Lyttelton offered to assist and starting steaming to the yacht's position as the Rescue Coordination Centre in Wellington directed the rescue helicopter to the scene.
Mr Rendle said this morning that the yacht's emergency locator beacon was still transmitting, indicating a position about 47 nautical miles (87km) north of White Island.
