A crew from Marine Rescue Shellharbour headed offshore in trying conditions early this morning to retrieve a 9 metre catamaran that broke its mooring on the flooded Shoalhaven River and washed out to sea yesterday.
The boat drifted about 17nm north overnight to Bass Point.
MRNSW Illawarra Regional Operations Manager Bruce Mitchell said the yacht had washed out to sea through the usually-closed entrance at Shoalhaven Heads, which had been cut open by floodwaters on the river.
Mr Mitchell said the catamaran had sat about 0.5nm off the entrance throughout yesterday, with an individual going out to anchor the vessel during the day but the anchor had not held overnight.
The crew of rescue vessel Shellharbour 30, Gerry Kelly, Geoff Troth and Joe Vasconcelos, took the boat under tow, making slow progress at 4 knots in the conditions, to return the boat to Port Kembla harbour.
A crew from Marine Rescue Port Kembla headed out to support the operation and assist in manoeuvring the large boat on to a mooring in the event it had lost its rudders.
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