Sailor on board leaking and 'storm-battered' yacht rescued

Defence force ship Te Kaha raced towards the stricken yacht - and got there just in time. Photo / Supplied

A 78-year-old sailor on board a leaking and "storm-battered" yacht between New Zealand and Australia has been rescued by the New Zealand Defence Force.

NZDF Commander Simon Griffiths said the yacht got into difficulty on Wednesday when it started to take on water after a leak near its rudder.

The yacht's masts were badly damaged after a storm and the skipper - a 78-year-old man who planned a two-week sailing trip just out of Brisbane - had run out of food by the time he was rescued.

It had been five weeks since he left Australian shores.

The yacht skippered by a 78-year-old man, was on a two-week sailing trip out of Brisbane. Photo / Supplied

The skipper activated the boat's emergency beacon on Wednesday night and again on Thursday morning, after his ship started taking on water.

Defence force ship Te Kaha was sailing to southeast Asia at the time to take part in an international maritime warfare exercise when it got the call.

It raced towards the stricken yacht - and got there just in time.

"What was supposed to be a two-week trip for the skipper had turned into five weeks," Mr Griffiths said.

"During that time, the yacht had been both becalmed and battered by storms. The yacht's two masts were damaged during the storm and it was down to its last set of useable sails.

"By the time our team got on board, the skipper had run out of food though he managed to get the leak under control."

The leak was repaired by the NZDF engineer and the group stocked the skipper up with 10 days' worth of food and diesel.

The skipper was also checked over by a NZDF medic and was in good health, Mr Griffiths said.

"Despite his recent ordeal, he was in good health and very good spirits. He was extremely grateful for the assistance we gave him and was confident he could now get himself and his yacht back to Brisbane," he said.

Te Kaha provided the skipper with the latest weather forecast and information from Joint Rescue Coordination Centre before leaving the yacht late on Thursday.