Rescued sailor safe and home tomorrow

By AINSLEY THOMSON

Three days after Chris Sayer's yacht capsized forcing him to cling to a partly deflated liferaft for 12 hours he is heading home aboard the frigate HMNZS Canterbury.

The top New Zealand yachtsman was sailing from Sydney to Auckland when his ordeal began on Sunday at 11pm.

The keel from his yacht Up The Blue was ripped off by an unidentified object.

He managed to sail the stricken vessel towards Cape Reinga for another 14 hours, but at 3pm on Monday it capsized and started filling with water, forcing him to seek refuge on the upturned hull.

After about two hours, he decided the boat was no longer safe and dived underneath to get the liferaft.

He also grabbed a few belongings, including clothes, food and water, and set off an emergency signal via satellite, alerting the National Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Wellington.

The centre picked up the signal and sent an Air Force Orion from Whenuapai.

It flew over him at 7pm. Eventually Sayer was picked up by a Taiwanese fishing boat.

The boat is staying at sea for another five months, so Sayer had to find another way home.

Yesterday afternoon he was transferred from the fishing boat to the Canterbury, in what were described as testing conditions.

Joint Forces spokeswoman Major Jules Lovelock said he was in good health and had a hot shower and big meal after boarding the Canterbury.

The frigate is due in Auckland at 10am tomorrow.

Friend and supporter Paul Bosher has set up a trust fund to help build another racing yacht for Sayer.

Mr Bosher said $18,000 had been raised in one day.

"A lot of people have followed Chris over the years," he said. "He is a real campaigner. He is someone Kiwis can relate to."

The goal is to raise $150,000 - the amount needed to get Sayer back on the water and his campaign going.

Mr Bosher said people are willing to donate because Sayer was an exceptional person: "I think he will do great things for New Zealand. He is an inspirational guy."

nzherald.co.nz/marine