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Concerns about the mental health of their skipper prompted two yachties to jump overboard and swim to shore near Kaikoura.
Three people on board the nine-metre yacht Soundsgood were all related and were sailing from Mana, near Wellington, to Lyttelton last Friday, said Kaikoura police.
The two inexperienced male crew members, from Christchurch and believed to be in their 20s, became concerned about the skipper's decision-making and general mental health after four days at sea, the Marlborough Express reported yesterday.
The yacht came to within 400m of the shore and they jumped off and swam to land, about 20km north of Kaikoura. They texted family members who then alerted the police.
The Kaikoura Coastguard went to the yacht, by then 11km out to sea, and convinced the skipper, from Wellington, to come ashore.
The 59-year-old, although an experienced skipper, appeared to be exhausted, said Kaikoura Coastguard president Richard Craig.
The boat was low on diesel and there were problems with navigation and communication equipment.
It was towed to Kaikoura in "tricky seas" and was now moored there until the skipper decided to continue his journey.
The three men had been reunited, Mr Craig said, and were on speaking terms.
- NZPA
