Helicopters winch crew from stricken trimaran

Ten French sailors were lifted to safety by chopper. Photo / Richard Robinson

Ten French sailors taking part in a round-the-world yacht race are in survival gear and sitting on their upturned craft awaiting rescue off the Otago coast.

The Wellington-based Rescue Co-ordination Centre (RCC) has confirmed all aboard the trimaran Groupama III were uninjured when the yacht overturned this afternoon.

RCC spokesman Ross Henderson told NZPA four helicopters were heading to the area, about 80 nautical miles east of Dunedin.

Mr Henderson said the 10 crew had all donned survival gear and were on the hull awaiting rescue.

The helicopters planned to winch the crew to safety.

Fixed wing aircraft were also assisting in the rescue and an Air Force Orion was on standby to help if required.

Mr Henderson told NZPA one helicopter arrived over the yacht just after 3pm and was uplifting some crew who would be ferried to Dunedin.

It was unknown at this stage what caused the yacht to overturn.

Sea conditions at the time were moderate, with a two metre swell and 30 knot southwesterly winds.

The yacht was taking part in the Jules Verne Round the World Yacht Race when it overturned.

Mr Henderson said the French equivalent of the RCC called the centre at 1.20pm to report it had picked up a signal from the yacht's emergency position indication beacon (Epirb).

- NZPA