Two overboard incidents - Northern Territory and Pacific Ocean

by Sail-World Roundup on 5 Nov 2010 The issues are many when a crew member goes overboard.

The tragic loss of a cruising sailor in the Northern Territory was this week only made worse when his wife almost lost her life as well because she couldn't control the boat they were sailing, and near Rarotonga hopes are fading for being able to find a New Zealander who went overboard this week and his crew were unable to retrieve him

The three fishermen told NT News yesterday how they saved the life of the distressed woman in the Northern Territory whose yacht was minutes away from running aground in stormy weather.

One of the men jumped into 2m-high waves to rescue the inexperienced sailor.

'We saved a life and a vessel,' skipper Sam James, 34, recounted to reporter Nadja Hainke. 'That's the least we could do.'

Mr James, Stephen Peoples, 25, and Kym Benham, 23, were on the San Pasquale II, a 15 metre 30-year-old fishing vessel, when they received a distress call Sunday morning.

Piyanuch Seamsorn, 38, who had just witnessed her husband, John Beale, 67, go overboard, cried for help through the VHF radio, as she was unable to handle the 14 metre sailing boat in the rough weather.

Mr James said the crew reacted immediately and changed course. 'She was so distressed,' he said. 'This is the way it should be done on the ocean.'

The yacht, sails ripped, drifted quickly into dangerously shallow water, and when the San Pasquale II reached it, it was less than 10 minutes away from hitting ground.

'It would've broken the keel and probably sunk the yacht,' Mr James continued.

Mr Peoples jumped into the sea with a rescue ring and jacket to reach the troubled yacht. He managed to anchor the yacht in safer waters before dragging the woman on board the fishing vessel. The woman was saved but her husband was not found.

A major aerial and water search was called off on Wednesday without success. Mr James said the crew had spent until dusk searching for the man while his wife remained on the deck. She was crying and refused to eat or change into dry clothes. 'She just wanted to look for her husband,' Mr James said.

Police said the crew had done a tremendous job, but the event has taken its toll on the three men.

Mr James said it was the first fatality he had experienced in 22 years in the job and he struggled to come to terms with the tragedy.

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In the meantime, hopes are fading for a missing New Zealander who fell overboard from a 14 metre yacht, about 150 nautical miles west of Rarotonga yesterday. The yacht Wild Goose left Rarotonga on November 3 bound for Opua, Northland, and the man fell overboard about 2pm yesterday, the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCCNZ) said this morning.

Attempts were made by the two people remaining on board to rescue him, but they were unsuccessful.
The RCCNZ said it received a distress beacon alert just after 4pm yesterday and asked a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P3 Orion to join the search.

The Orion arrived on scene after dark and made contact with the two people on board the yacht via VHF radio.
Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator Kevin Banaghan said rescuers had seen no sign of the man, who had been missing for more than 20 hours.

Despite warm being in warm waters, the chances of him surviving beyond 12 hours were 'significantly reduced', Mr Banaghan said. RCCNZ said the RNZAF P3 Orion was returning to New Zealand after spending the night in Rarotonga and continuing its search this morning.

A French Naval aircraft would continue to assist in the search before returning to Papeete, French Polynesia, this afternoon. The container vessel Forum Pacific would also continue searching until mid afternoon and The Wild Goose has remained in the area to assist.

RCCNZ would re-assess the situation if more information came to light.