Rescued couple must wait days before arriving ashore

ADELAIDE, - A couple plucked from their stricken yacht in the Great Australian Bight must now spend several days in a tuna boat before returning to shore.

The pair, aged in their 50s, were rescued early today after triggering an emergency beacon yesterday when the yacht rolled in high seas and began taking on water.

Australian Search and Rescue (AusSAR) spokeswoman Tracey Jiggins said the couple had suffered slight abrasions during their ordeal but were otherwise unharmed and in good spirits. They were picked up by a longline tuna vessel.

"But the vessel is not due to come back into Port Lincoln for another four or five days so they will stay on board until then.

"They may be able to come back earlier if there's another vessel coming back but we don't know."

Ms Jiggins said she did not know where the yacht, which has now been abandoned, had come from or where it was headed when it struck trouble.

- AAP