Man rescued at sea after sailing accident

A Westpac Rescue Helicopter winched the injured man to safety. File photo

A 70-year-old man has been rescued at sea after being struck on the head while sailing off the Wairarapa Coast.

The man had been travelling from Auckland to Picton and was about 20km off the Wairarapa Coast when he was seriously injured by the boat's boom earlier today.

He managed to make a mayday call just before 11am and a nearby fishing boat, the Otakou, quickly made its way to the man's boat as the Rescue Co-ordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) worked to get emergency services out to the scene.

A Westpac Rescue Helicopter from Wellington and a Maritime police officer winched the injured man to safety at about 1pm.

He was taken to Wellington Hospital for treatment.

RCCNZ search and rescue mission co-ordinator Chris Wilson said the man had been well-prepared for the voyage.

"He contacted us before leaving Auckland to advise of the trip and was making regular reports to Maritime Radio to update his position.

"He's done all the right things and that's been very helpful in getting assistance to him."