Yacht's crew must wait 24 hours for rescue

The yacht Scot Free has ripped sails, no diesel for the motor and the GPS is disabled. Picture / RNZAF

A rescue is under way to save two people aboard a yacht battling gale-force winds and huge seas 740km northeast of North Cape.

But it will be around 24 hours before the nearest available vessel can reach their stricken yacht.

The Scot Free activated its emergency distress signal late yesterday and the Rescue Coordination Centre dispatched an Orion aircraft to search for it.

Centre mission co-ordinator John Ashby said today the Orion located the Scot Free about 9.30am.

There are two crew aboard and the RNZAF said it was believed the skipper is suffering from head lacerations.

The yacht's sails are torn and the crew has no diesel for the motor. The GPS is also disabled.

Mr Ashby said: "We've got the nearest available vessel, a medium-sized merchant ship, on its way to help rescue the crew. Unfortunately, the appalling weather conditions have hindered other vessels in the area from going to their rescue."

The ship should reach the yacht about midday tomorrow.

The mission follows a busy weekend for the centre. Yesterday, two crew were rescued from the yacht Bird of Passage after it lost its mast in storms south of Tonga.

And on Saturday, an exhausted solo yachtie aboard Gypsy Rose III was plucked from the ocean after he got into difficulty 450 nautical miles (833km) northeast of New Zealand.

Wing Commander John Lovatt said from on board the Orion which located the Scot Free that it was a busy time for his squadron.

He said: "Not only are we on call and carrying out search and rescue missions, but we're also conducting regular fishery patrols in the Pacific.

"We have an aircraft and crews exercising in Scotland and all our personnel are continuously training to maintain a high skill level."

- NZPA, HERALD ONLINE STAFF