Kiwi yachtsman found in life-raft off Norfolk Island
by Maritime NZ and Sail-World.com on 18 Nov 2017
Norfolk Guardian is expected to rendezvous with the Waimanu's liferaft and occupant. Image - MarineTraffic.com SW
A New Zealand yachtsman has been found in a life raft 90 nautical miles east of Norfolk Island.
Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand has been coordinating the search for the yachtsman since 6.15 am today.
Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator Dave Wilson said RCCNZ responded when a distress beacon from the yacht Waimanu, a Townson 32 design was activated. The deck stepped mast jumped out of its step and smashed through the cabin top and bottom of the boat.
The Townson 32 was design as a fast 'Gulf cruiser/racer' and was not designed for offshore voyages.
Mr Wilson said a New Zealand Defence Force C-130 Hercules aircraft was sent to the location of the beacon, and a cargo ship, Norfolk Guardian, was diverted to the location.
The yachtsman is moving and seems unharmed but has not been able to radio the C-130.
He was sailing single-handed from Vanuatu to Marsden Point.
The C-130 found the yachtsman in Waimanu’s life-raft at 11.50am. The Norfolk Guardian is due to arrive at the life-raft at 3pm today.
The C-130 will remain overhead the life raft to monitor the rescue effort. The C-130 crew were unable to spot the stricken yacht and it is presumed to have sunk.
Waimanu is a 10 metre sloop.There is a strong 30 knot southerly wind blowing at the location of the life-raft, and the sea is rough with three metre swells.
Earlier, the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) reported it was helping search for a New Zealand yacht that activated its emergency beacon early this morning about 166 kilometres east of Norfolk Island in the Pacific Ocean.
Air Commodore Darryn Webb, the Air Component Commander, said a Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft deployed from Auckland this morning to search for the yacht Waimanu. The Hercules was expected to reach the yacht’s position around midday.
The Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) requested NZDF support to locate the yacht after it activated its distress beacon early this morning. Norfolk is a small island in the Pacific Ocean about 1000 kilometres north of New Zealand.
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