Yacht duo winched off in wild seas

A Dutch couple on their way to Vanuatu were winched to safety after their yacht lost its mast and had to be abandoned in wild seas.

Conditions were fine when the pair, aged in their late 60s, set sail from Nelson last Wednesday in the 14m Matahari, which they built themselves.

But about 4pm on Sunday, the couple put out a mayday call.

"They said they had demasted in heavy seas," said a Westpac rescue helicopter crewman, who preferred not to be named.

"The wind was a heavy westerly, about 35 knots, with swells up to six metres."

He said the vessel was dead in the water about 90km from Herekino Harbour near the top of the North Island.

"It had been smashed by heavy seas with no power or steering."

The couple, whose English is limited, were "pretty distraught" and desperate to get their belongings off the yacht, the Westpac crewman said.

But they were restricted to one item each and chose a laptop and large handbag.

"That was their entire life on that boat."

The crewman said the vessel was still afloat, with an emergency beacon attached to the steering wheel.

"It potentially poses a marine threat so that target will be tracked," he said.

The couple were taken to Auckland City Hospital to be treated for minor neck and head injuries.

A spokesman last night said they were "just in for observation".

A spokesman for the Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Wellington, John Dixon, said the incident showed how important it was for yachts to have correct gear on board.

"Thanks to the vessel being equipped with an emergency beacon and VHF radio, we were able to launch a rescue mission and quickly reach the couple."

Mr Dixon warned boaties to take particular care in severe weather.