Skipper adds another rescue to his tally

Jim Hebden, captain of the containership Capitaine Willis. File picture / Herald

Ocean-going skipper Jim Hebden is a humble man who does not go for the headlines but his seamanship has saved two more lives after an overnight sea drama near Fiji, say his colleagues.

Captain Hebden is the skipper of the 5000-tonne container ship Capitaine Wallis which rescued a couple from the yacht Scot Free in huge seas about 750km north of New Zealand shortly before first light today.

The rescue would take the number of people Captain Hebden has saved well into double figures, his agent Tony Emirali said.

The ship, which is on a regular fortnightly run between Auckland and Fiji, was diverted by rescue authorities to the yacht after it called for help yesterday.

It had ripped sails and an unworkable engine and global positioning system. The skipper, Scottish born Gary Blackwood, was believed to have head injuries.

Mr Blackwood and his English wife Lisa were both rescued by Captain Hebden in the pitch black, in a 30 knot, heavy south easterly sea at 4.30am today.

Mr Emirali said Captain Hebden, 59, was a legendary seaman and in his 25 years on the Fiji run would have rescued at least 15 people.

"He is a top notch skipper -- brilliant," Mr Emirali said.

Captain Hebden was also involved in one of the worst maritime rescues around the New Zealand coast. During the Auckland to Suva race in 1994 he was master of the container ship Tui Cakau when a storm hit the fleet.

At one stage the rescue centre in Wellington had seven emergency beacons going off at once. Three crew and several yachts were lost during the face.

However, Captain Hebden's brilliant seamanship saved at least two crew, said Larry Robbins, then commanding officer of the navy ship, HMNZS Monowai, which won several awards for saving lives during the drama.

"He is very proficient at ship handling," Mr Emirali said.

"There should be something you can do for these guys, to recognise them in some way," he said.

He said Captain Hebden was very self-effacing and humble.

Scot Free left Whangarei last Tuesday after an 18-month refit at Whangarei.

Ray Roberts, of Ray Roberts Marine in Whangarei, said two other yachts it sailed with turned back when the weather worsened.

He said Scot Free was a sound ocean-going boat, but he did not know why the Blackwoods decided to continue in the storm.

Mr Blackwood was believed to be in his 50s, and his wife Lisa was thought to be in her 30s.

- NZPA