Excalibur yacht disaster on Australian Story- Mon Oct 5, 8pm, ABC1

by Emma Rusher on 2 Oct 2009 The Miraculous survival story of John Rogers and Brian McDermott begins on Australian Story: Mon Oct 5, 8pm, ABC1.

The survival story of the two Melbourne sailors who struggled to stay alive for seven hours in stormy seas off the coast of New South Wales, only to be run over by a 50 000 tonne ship, that ultimately became their salvation after their yacht capsized.

Jesse Martin, solo yacht adventurer, introduces this special 2-part edition of Australian Story that follows one man’s dream to build his own yacht and the joy it brought him and close friends until tragedy struck.

In September 2002, the 15-metre yacht, Excalibur was travelling to Sydney after the Hamilton Island Race.

At 9pm on Monday, September 16, Excalibur capsized off Port Stephens, on the mid-North Coast of New South Wales.

John Rogers and Brian McDermott were the only survivors. The other four crew, all from Melbourne, died.

Christopher Heyes, a life-long friend of McDermott, was found still attached to the boat. But the other three were never found. Ann Maree Pope, 30; Tracey Luke, 32 and Peter McLeod, 51, were lost at sea.

For the first time John Rogers and Brian McDermott will reunite with members of the Filipino crew who rescued them and are joined by the families and friends of those who perished to share their experiences.