Stranded sailors in good spirits awaiting rescue

Two Italian sailors stranded on their crippled yacht in the Pacific Ocean, midway between New Zealand and Chile, are not panicking.

Father and his son Pietro Fresi, 64, and Vittorio Fresi, 34, are reported to be in good spirits as they await the arrival of an oil tanker which has been diverted to rescue them

The pair contacted Chile's search and rescue service early yesterday to report their 10.4 metre steel-hulled yacht, Onitron, had lost its mast and the engine had broken down in heavy seas..

Dave Wilson from the Rescue Coordination Centre said last night sea conditions had improved.

The pair were sheltering in the hull of vessel and were aware the tanker Hellespont Trooper should reach them by midnight on Wednesday.

Radio New Zealand reported that the two sailors left Italy in September last year to retrace the path sailed by commercial ships in the 19th century.

Their voyage along the clipper route was expected to take up to 300 days,

Maritime New Zealand officials said the pair were experienced sailors, in good health, and had enough food to last up to 10 days.

Once rescued, the father and son would probably be taken to Argentina.

- NZPA