Water Police rescue rudderless yacht
by Rob Kothe on 7 Jan 2007
Ketch Birrahlee II under tow NSW Police .
A 52 foot ketch Birrahlee II with six persons on board, lost its rudder in Bass Strait on a passage from Melbourne to Sydney on Friday, near Deal Island, 60 Nm south of Wilson’s Promontory.
Victoria Police spokesman Sergeant David Spencer said.’ The yacht limped into a bay at Deal Island where it was safely anchored, but a predicted wind change today placed the yacht in extreme danger of grounding on the desolate island.
The Victorian Water Police’s newest patrol boat, the 16 metre long patrol boat 'Fearless' left its base in Williamstown at midday yesterday with a crew of 4 to rescue a yacht stranded near Deal Island, Bass strait.
The overnight trip of approximatley 165 nautical miles (Nm) took around 11 hours to reach the 16m yacht.
On reaching the anchored boat Sergeant Craig Sheppard from Fearless confirmed with the wind change, the crew would have been in extreme danger.
'The yacht would have been destroyed for sure,' Sgt Sheppard said. 'The crew were very glad to see us and they are in good spirits, but we still have a long way to go.'
'Fearless' commenced a tow very early this morning in good conditions; however the weather is deteriorating with increasing wind and swell. Conditions are expected to worsen this afternoon as the change develops.
Mid-morning, the vessels were located west of the Hogan Island group approximately 30 Nm (38 Km) from the mainland at Wilsons Promontory.
The latest new is that the rescue tow is progressing well, arrival time at Port Welshpool is estimated to be around 2000 hrs (8pm) tonight.
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