Yachting couple 'lucky to be alive'

An elderly couple are lucky to be alive after their yacht hit rocks and sank in choppy seas north of Wellington last night, police say.

The Wellington boaties, aged in their 70s, were a few hundred metres off shore at Plimmerton Beach when their 7.6-metre yacht hit rocks about 9.45pm, Inspector Paul Jermy of Wellington police said.

The couple called police from a cellphone and managed to climb into a small dinghy as their yacht lost power and took on water in choppy seas.

They set off flares and remained in touch with police to inform rescuers of their location and the sea conditions.

They were rescued by a Mana Coastguard vessel just as their boat sank in about 22m of water.

A Westpac Rescue helicopter with a winch was also sent to the scene, but was not needed.

The couple, who were wearing life jackets, remained calm throughout the ordeal, Mr Jermy said.

They were checked by ambulance staff on shore and were able to return home last night.

The yacht and dinghy were both lost, and were expected to wash ashore in the next few days.

- NZPA