No rescue for stowaway sailor headed for the Antarctic

by nk on 6 Feb 2012 The New Zealand Government have said they will not take action to rescue a a boat maintenance worker who was apparently accidentally taken to sea on board a Norwegian yacht whose skipper had just been deported. The yacht has no EPIRB on board and was headed to the Antarctic. Depending on weather conditions, the yacht may have already reached the Southern continent.

Jarle Andhoey, tearaway Norwegian sailing adventurer and television personality, set out on his 16-metre steel yacht Nilaya, after he was served with a deportation order, on 24th January.

Andhoey made no contact with New Zealand authorities but told Norwegian media that the vessel left in such a hurry a New Zealander who was repairing an anchor did not have time to get off.

The New Zealander has not been named but is believed to be from Auckland.

Mr Andhoey said the New Zealander was happy enough to be on board. If this is true, it is uncertain whether he knows that the yacht does not have an emergency beacon on board. Andhoey has taken this action 'because they did not want to put anyone at risk if they ran into trouble.'

Andhoey has no permission from either the Norwegian or the New Zealand authorities to go to Antarctica, both of which are necessary according to the laws of the two countries.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry is providing consular advice to the New Zealand man's family, though it is unclear whether the New Zealander has asked for assistance.

Mr Andhoey told Norwegian media that he planned to sail to McMurdo Sound to find out what happened to his three crew who died when the yacht Berserk sank last year.

He wanted to leave a wreath and bottles with messages in them.

Berserk at the time was waiting for Mr Andhoey and his companion Samuel Massie, who were attempting to cross the South Pole on quadbikes.

They were rescued from the ice and faced severe criticism in the aftermath.

New Zealand officials served Mr Andhoey with a deportation order on January 23, after he failed to declare that he had been deported from Canada when he arrived in New Zealand.