Thirty-six hours after Marine Rescue Lord Howe Island volunteers first became concerned about a yacht travelling from Sydney to Lord Howe Island, two exhausted sailors have been returned safely to shore following a gruelling experience in extremely challenging conditions.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Rodney Page said Marine Rescue Lord Howe Island Unit Commander Jim McFadyen and radio operators at Marine Rescue Port Macquarie had been monitoring the logged on vessel ahead of its expected arrival at Lord Howe Island at 11:30am on Saturday 2 August.
“Marine Rescue Lord Howe Island stopped receiving updates from the 10-metre yacht via the Automatic Identification System (AIS tracking) around 9am yesterday.
“The last AIS position received from the vessel was approximately 60 nautical miles (111km) off Lord Howe Island, with the sailors experiencing seas up to six metres and strong 30-knot winds (55km/h).
“Attempts to reach the crew on board the yacht using radio and satellite phone were unsuccessful.
“Marine Rescue NSW notified NSW Police Marine Area Command of their concerns, who then alerted the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).
“AMSA made satellite phone contact with the vessel late yesterday, with the crew on board experiencing deteriorating conditions of seas up to eight metres and powerful winds gusting to 40 knots (74km/h),” he said.
At approximately 10:20pm last night (Saturday 2 August), the sailing vessel activated its emergency EPIRB.
“By this morning, the vessel was around 25 nautical miles off Lord Howe Island,” Inspector Page said.
Just after 10am today, Marine Rescue Lord Howe Island was tasked with rescuing the two sailors and their vessel with Marine Rescue Port Macquarie volunteers providing valuable communications support during the operation.
“Our crew was deployed immediately and met the yacht 22 nautical miles (40km) southwest of Lord Howe Island,” Inspector Page said.
“Conditions were rough, with the Marine Rescue NSW crew confronted with three to five-metre seas and 30-knot winds 50 nautical miles lee of the island.
“The condition of the male and female on board the yacht was checked before a towline was secured to the vessel and it was taken back to Lord Howe Island.
“The situation was extreme, equipment was stretched, but the experienced Lord Howe Island crew and its Skipper Jim McFadyen managed the mission successfully with assistance from the dedicated Marine Rescue Port Macquarie radio base.
“Marine Rescue NSW vessel Lord Howe 40 safely returned the two extremely exhausted sailors to shore at 9pm. They were uninjured and very thankful for the assistance provided by Marine Rescue NSW and AMSA.
“The conditions experienced by these sailors were extremely challenging and dangerous. It would have been terribly uncomfortable for them out there, but thankfully they’re safe and well.
“The skipper should also be commended for logging on with Marine Rescue NSW, which can be done via the free Marine Rescue NSW app or VHF Channel 16.
“Logging on ensures our dedicated volunteers like those at Marine Rescue Port Macquarie and Marine Rescue Lord Howe Island keep watch for the safe return or arrival of boaters, and once again, it has proven a valuable lifesaving tool,” Inspector Page said.
More than 3,400 Marine Rescue NSW volunteers are on standby to assist boaters on waterways across the state during the upcoming spring school holidays. Acting Commissioner Todd Andrews said the...
Marine Rescue Woolgoolga has made history as the first Marine Rescue NSW unit to appoint an all-female executive team. Image: (L to R) Dolly Clarke, Cherrill Powell, Lisa Mobbs and Taylor Marshall,...
