French navy rescues yachties

8.45am

The French navy has rescued a New Zealand woman from a yacht drifting off Australia in heavy seas for two days.

The Noumea-based patrol boat plucked the woman and two French crew off Te Marama 3 about 11.30pm yesterday, but its French skipper and owner decided he would stay aboard.

The skipper told the navy crew he had been trying to organise salvage of the yacht, which was his "life's work", National Rescue Co-ordination Centre spokesman Jim McLean said.

The patrol boat was today on its way back to Noumea with the three crew.

No details of the woman were available, Mr McLean said.

Rescuers asked the skipper to reconsider his decision to stay aboard, but he declined.

He told the rescue centre, which was co-ordinating the rescue, that he was no longer "in distress", which meant he no longer needed help, Mr McLean said.

Weather was improving and the catamaran was now drifting towards Noumea.

A Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion found the catamaran drifting 230km east of Norfolk Island on Tuesday morning, after it set off a distress beacon the night before.

Its engine, rudder and sail were damaged and it was adrift in swells of up to 5m.

Several rescue attempts by a diverted Panamanian bulk carrier were thwarted by the rough seas.

The French patrol boat arrived at the scene about 8pm yesterday.

The catamaran left Opua in the Bay of Islands six days ago, bound for Noumea.

- NZPA

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