NZ 'ghost ship' turns up in Queensland waters

Bill Heritage, Sharan Foga (obscured), John Lammin and Carl Horn were rescued by helicopter in March last year. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand's "ghost ship" - a little yacht that just kept on sailing - has arrived in Queensland.

Air Apparent, the small yacht abandoned off the north coast of New Zealand last year when the crew reportedly "mutinied" and set off a distress beacon, has been recovered by fishermen.

The 7.9m boat took more than a year to sail the 1481km from where it was abandoned off the Kaipara coast on March 25, 2008.

The crew set off an emergency locator beacon, reportedly against the wishes of the skipper and owner, Bill Heritage.

Mr Heritage said at the time that there was nothing structurally wrong with it as it sailed from Auckland to Nelson in 3m waves and 55km/h winds.

But he said when the boat's battery died, the motor would not start on the hand crank and the crew panicked, setting off the beacon.

The skipper and his three crew - John Lammin, Carl Horn and Sharan Foga - were taken off the boat by a rescue helicopter.

On May 27 last year, the Air Apparent was found upright and drifting with its mast intact and its sail dragging in the water, about 390km off North Cape.

By October, it had floated to the south of Norfolk Island, where it was spotted by the French Navy patrol ship La Moqueuse, whose captain said it was like a "ghost ship".

Now Air Apparent has been taken in by fishermen from the north Queensland town of Bowen and Mr Heritage said the boat was "rather the worse for wear".

"It is remarkable that she is still afloat after more than 13 months adrift."

Its insurer is reported to be discussing salvage rights with the fishermen.

- NZPA