Yacht crew winched to safety

The stricken ketch Morning Star, off White Island, as seen from the rescue helicopter by pilot Rob Anderson and crew. Photo / Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust

Wind gusts and a boisterous swell 137km off the Tauranga coast did not prevent a helicopter medic from landing on a stricken yacht to rescue its two crew.

The men, aged in their 50s and 60s and believed to be from the South Island, were winched to safety by Auckland's Westpac Rescue Helicopter at first light on Sunday morning.

Their 43ft ketch Morning Star, abandoned with tattered sails while taking in water, was still giving off positions in the Bay of Plenty yesterday from an emergency locator beacon.

The vessel was on its way from Opua to the Marlborough Sounds when Maritime Radio reported a call at 2.30am on Friday that its engine had broken down 37km east of White Island.

Maritime NZ spokesman Steve Rendle said its skipper was seeking a tow to Whakatane but there were no vessels available to assist him.

Despite being hampered by broken sails, he and his companion struggled throughout Friday and Saturday to reach the coast.

But Mr Rendle said that at 4.10am on Sunday, they sent out a mayday call after the vessel started taking in water and they found their pumps unable to cope.

Helicopter pilot Rob Anderson told the Herald his four-member crew had to fly further offshore than normally required, but the rescue went without a hitch.

"There is more risk, so it was a rewarding rescue that went to plan with no hiccups," he said.

Although the two yachties had launched a life-raft in case they had to abandon ship to make it easier for the helicopter to rescue them from a 3m swell, Mr Anderson said a medic was able to be lowered to the vessel's deck on a hi-line to attach a harness to them so they could be lifted to safety.