Air Force praises well equipped yachties after South Pacific rescue

by New Zealand Defence Force. on 30 Jun 2010 The crew of an Air Force Orion aircraft from No 5 Squadron have successfully located a yacht after a distress beacon alert was received by the NZ Rescue Coordination Centre (NZRCC). The Orion crew launched from Auckland Air Force Base during the early hours of this morning and arrived on station just before 10am.

The Orion crew found the vessel on its first pass of the search area some 75 nautical miles from Niue. The yacht TAR BABY II, a 12m sloop was adrift and had lost its mast. The two people on board were both alive and well.

After successfully locating the TAR BABY II the Orion crew advised the NZRCC who have directed a fishing vessel into the area to assist .

The Orion crew, after refuelling in Niue, returned to maintain overwatch of the stricken vessel until the rescue vessel was expect to arrive – around now.

'This is a text book search and rescue , where appropriately prepared and equipped mariners have activated emergency equipment after getting into a predicament beyond their control, and SAR assets (in this case an RNZAF Orion) have been able to respond quickly and efficiently.

'It highlights the benefits of being appropriately equipped, as the aircraft was able to transit directly to the satellite pinpointed distress location, and utilising on board sensors was able to localise the yacht within minutes.

'The sensors on the P-3K Orion (and the soon to arrive upgraded P-3K2 Orion) are optimised for this type of search,' said Wing Commander Nick Olney, Commanding Officer of No 5 Squadron, RNZAF.
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Letter from Reader:


Sender: Roger Morgan

Message: The first question that should be asked is why did the yacht lose its mast?

Was it a storm wave?

Were the crew injured?

Had the rigging been checked before the passage?

Had rigging over 7 years old been replaced?

Why could the yacht not motor to the nearest land?

Why could it not fabricate a jury rig from spinnaker poles, main boom or similar?

Are distress beacons 'call me a taxi and let's go home' beacons?

The NZ rescue service is very efficient and we are glad to have it but the responsibility of any long distance sailor in the first instance is to look after themselves.

Roger Morgan
(circumnavigator)
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