Sailing holiday turned into 'voyage from hell'

A Canterbury man's holiday voyage turned into a trip from hell last week when the skipper fell overboard, leaving him alone adrift in the Pacific Ocean.

The man, in his mid-60s, had little sailing experience but agreed to join a British man, whom he met while holidaying in the Cook Islands, on a voyage aboard the yacht Santana from Rarotonga to Nuku'alofa.

The New Zealander told Tongan police he was asleep in the cabin "off-watch" when the skipper, also in his mid-60s, fell overboard on August 20.

When he awoke, there was no sign of his sailing partner.

Tongan police commander Chris Kelley told NZPA the New Zealand man turned the boat around and tried to look for him "but he's not a sailor by any means and that was difficult for him".

The man told police he did not know how to operate the yacht or the communication equipment on board.

Mr Kelley said the New Zealander didn't really sail on to Tonga, rather he "managed to stay on the boat and keep it afloat".

"I think he just went round in ever-decreasing circles.

"He simply struggled with whole dimensions of being alone on the boat."

On Sunday, the New Zealander sighted the Tongan islands and found an emergency locator beacon and instructions.

He managed to activate it and was picked up about midday by the Tongan Defence Services off the east coast of Tonga's main island of Tongatapu.

The Santana was towed into Nuku'alofa by the Tongan patrol boat Savea.

The New Zealander has been staying with a police staff member in Tonga this week while helping police with their inquiry.

Mr Kelley, who wouldn't name the two men, said he saw no reason why the New Zealander could not now return to New Zealand.

A search was launched for the man lost at sea "but given that it was over three days before we were notified...and given his age and circumstances, his chances of survival are nil".

His relatives in the United States had been told of the situation, Mr Kelley said.

- NZPA